The Wrecks Build Community and Crowds on The INSIDE : OUTSIDE Tour

The late-spring sun beat down on the pavement of the street in Boston, Massachusetts.

One of the blocks of buildings adjacent to the Theatre District housed anything from convenience stores to glamorous hotels. On 12 May 2025, metal barricades were strategically placed in front of one doorway, where the glass windows and black awning overhead both read “Royale.” The line of fans winds around sidewalks far into the distance, with some people making finishing touches to their eyeliner and others taking photos of their alternative pop-rock-inspired outfits. One thing was clear: fans were ecstatic to be seeing The Wrecks perform that night.

The Wrecks officially formed in 2015, although the members had met over the past few years before that. They released their debut EP, We Are The Wrecks, in April 2016, and they began touring as an opener that same year. After songs like Favorite Liar and Fvck Somebody got traction in the charts and in the ears of listeners, this band has now created four EPs, two albums, and has toured with various artists such as The Driver Era and Paramore. The INSIDE : OUTSIDE Tour, named after their most recent EP called INSIDE :, is their largest headlining tour so far, and their first tour in five years to include international shows.

Over 1,200 fans funnelled into Royale Boston, ready for a night of electrifying music and connections that last for life. They scaled the flights of stairs to the second floor of the venue (where the general admission floor and stage are), and some even continued to find the best spots on the balcony. The room glistened from sparkling chandeliers and leather jackets reflecting the dim light. Merch lines were long, and so were the discussions between fans about what songs they were excited to hear.

The pre-show music died down as the crowd erupted in cheering. Stage lights turned on while surrounding lights disappeared into darkness. The room is illuminated in red and blue as guitarist Toast and drummer Ben Gomez take the stage. Fans continued to scream as Benjamin Carter, the first opener of the night, strutted out from backstage. Wearing a red leather jacket, black bandana, and sunglasses, his outfit reflected his alternative rock music. Carter started out with *DAYDREAMING, a catchy tune with a fun beat that fans danced to.

This opener brought out his strong vocals for various songs, such as Finish The Job and m.m.s.l.g.g.g.h. (which stands for “Miss Me, Say Lеss, Get Gone, Go Home”). Benjamin Carter even sang an unreleased song, Backseat Driving, which had the crowd thrilled, knowing that they got a sneak peek of new music. Even attendees at the concert who may not have known Carter before the show got to experience his connection with fans, as he took a moment to sit on the stage and sing on the same level as the people who had camped out for hours to be at the barricade. Ending his set with Sticks n’ Stones, Benjamin Carter thanked fans for coming early for his performance and left everyone energised and ready for the next artist.

There was a slight lull in the chaos of the concert as fans took quick water breaks or checked out merch. Not too much time had passed before the lights began flashing, signalling the next opening act starting. Attila Anrather arrived on stage to the cheers of a growing crowd. Ben Acker, Jasper Harris, and Mark Pogg picked up their guitars and sparked even more excitement in the fans. Finally, Ben Roter stepped out and made his way over to the microphone placed front and centre for him as the lead singer of Quarters of Change.

Kicking off their set with Tightrope, this alternative rock band had the crowd moving their arms to the beat of the music and tossing their hair side to side. Their music flowed through the veins of the listeners, who matched its changing energy. Songs like Kiwi and Ms Dramatic vitalised the crowd with fast guitar solos and the band moving around frequently on stage. Other songs, such as T Love, allowed the fans to appreciate a slightly slower atmosphere and live in the moment. Quarters of Change closed out their set with Rift, leaving echoes of the fans’ cheers lasting into the next break.

The longer break before the headlining performance came with the remaining fans rushing into the venue and finding spots to stand or sit for the rest of the night. Couches and booths upstairs filled up with people waiting in anticipation, while the floor became packed. The lighting designers worked quickly to ensure that The Wrecks had a perfect setting ready for them, and security chatted with fans to learn more about why they were so stirred by the band’s music. The stage crew rushed to change out the instruments and scenery on stage, revealing a couch and fake plants.

After what felt like an eternity, the main lights of the venue went out and yells of excitement spread from the barricade fans all the way to the back of the pit and up into the balcony. The stage glowed red as Billy Nally sat behind his vibrant blue drums, playing the first few notes of the opening song. Bassist Aaron Kelley and guitarist Nick Schmidt were welcomed onto the stage by the vibrant energy of the fans. Finally, lead singer Nick Anderson appeared, sending the crowd into a frenzy. A white screen with the words “The Wrecks” was displayed behind the band as they began to sing Sonder, igniting passion and thrill that lasted into the night.

The band strided around the stage during Out Of Style and led the crowd as they clapped to the beat of the song. Kelley jumped in his black and white flame pants during Always, Everytime, while Anderson swung around the mic stand. Fans began to tear up, realising that a moment they had planned for was actually happening in front of their eyes. They perceived every detail and started to appreciate the moment, from Schmidt’s frayed shirt sleeve edges to Nally’s passion in his drumming.

While the band had the fans on their feet all night, there were specific events that will stand out as memories forever for some fans. Nick Anderson sang Normal acoustically with just a guitar, leaving the crowd feeling emotional. The band had to restart Milwaukee’s Best after mixing up their timing. A fan was even brought on stage for a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Some people were surprised that there wasn’t a mosh pit or “wall of death,” but there was still plenty of headbanging and hands punching the air.

During Infinitely Ordinary (the last song before the encore), The Wrecks led the crowd to wave their arms together, forming a sea of connection and bonding. The crowd cried out and chanted before the encore, begging for ten more songs. While the band couldn’t play that many more, they still performed two special tunes. During the last song, Favorite Liar, Nick Anderson wove through the crowd, surprising all of the enthusiastic fans. After the song was done and the fans were cheering for the band, setlists and guitar picks were given to a lucky few attendees, including one fan whom Aaron Kelley even embraced in a comforting hug. This cemented one thing about The Wrecks: they care about their fans.

As the crowd headed out, there were still fans left in shock. Whether they held hands with Anderson, got a drumstick from Nally, hugged Kelley, or were waved at by Schmidt, every fan left with memories to hold close for life. Both openers, Benjamin Carter and Quarters of Change, were immediately added to Spotify and Apple Music playlists of many attendees. Since this show kicked off a summer full of other shows for some fans, it was sure to set high expectations for future concerts for everyone.

Finding a community where you belong can be a difficult and painful journey. Still, The Wrecks’ show is the perfect place to begin if you are a fan of alternative rock or indie pop-rock music and energetic concerts.