LIVE REVIEW: hey, nothing in Boston, MA (10.21.26)
Right on the heels of their acclaimed latest album Hound (2025), indie folk duo hey, nothing (composed of Twenty-year-olds Tyler Mabry and Harlow Phillips) are on a US tour including a sold-out show at Paradise Rock Club in Boston on October 21st, 2026. The show was a thoroughly enjoyable display of the duo’s ability to adapt their already-solid material to a live setting, with excitement that went beyond what the studio captured.
The set began with “Hound,” from their newest album of the same name. The first minute of the show featured beautiful vocal harmonies, accompanied only by the strumming of a clean electric guitar. Then, the rest of the band kicked in, and everything came to life. It is worth noting that while hey, nothing is technically only a duo of Tyler Mabry and Harlow Phillips (each on both vocals and guitars), they are joined on tour with drummer Roan O’Reilly and bassist Aiden Hall. This fleshes their sound out significantly and adds a boost of adrenaline to the live versions of the songs.
They followed “Hound” with “i haunt your dreams,” which kicked the tempo up significantly. The band also visibly hit their master stride at this point, with Mabry headbanging like there was no tomorrow, and O’Reilly pounding the kit relentlessly during a breakdown toward the end of the number.
“Boat Garage,” another straightforward rock song, kept up the pace set earlier by “i haunt your dreams.” Before going into “Black Bear,” the band took a quick break to change out instruments while Harlow Phillips thanked the crowd for being there. “Black Bear” was a tonal departure from the previous run of songs, with an eerie, haunting quality that fit the crowded, dimly-lit venue nicely. “Long Time Leaver” was laid-back with a coming-of-age movie feel, which feels appropriate considering the band’s name is based on a line from The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012).
“Beluga Whale” was an optimistic crowd pleaser, although Phillips stopped the song after only a minute or two to playfully berate the crowd. After fans were informed they did not dance enough the first go around, the band launched back in, and they were given a second chance to properly enjoy it.
“Seeing You” was a return to the haunting quality of earlier songs like “Black Bear.” “Like a Brother” began with the audience scream-singing louder than the band themselves, at least for the first minute or so; once the rhythm section kicked in, the audience backed off a bit (while still singing every word, of course). “Maine,” a melancholy love song, ushered out a sea of swaying cell phone cameras. Then, Harlow hollered a passionate “Back to rock ‘n roll!” and again urged everyone to “Bust a move!”
When they launched into “The Sink,” an upbeat tune reminiscent of early 2000s indie, many throughout the crowd did indeed bust a move. Across the show, hey, nothing handled tempo changes with precision. Their excellent musicianship carried the audience forward into the last leg of the show.
“Waiting Room” started with a long drum intro from O’Reilly, and then vocal harmonies from Phillips and Mabry without accompanying bass or guitar. Phillips in particular shined here, and the moment is a standout in an entire night of excellent vocals from both singers. “Too Drunk to Drive” was exactly what it sounds like: a fun, drunken romp that the plastered crowd embraced with open arms and ample screeching. “Sick Dogs” provided another moment where the crowd seemed louder than the actual band, and “Arteries” would have been a cathartic encore on its own, with more beautiful singing and stellar musicianship from all parties involved.
Then, the band made the bold move of repeating the first track, “Hound,” as their encore. The only way this could work is if the reprise is stronger than the first version, and hey, nothing absolutely delivered on that. The crowd was appropriately ecstatic, and the combination of their energy and that of the band members themselves culminated in a glorious high that closed a stellar show.
Featured image by: Trent Wayne
