Live Review: The Regrettes at The Fonda

For the final show of The Regrettes Farewell Tour, one couldn’t have asked for a better venue than The Fonda. Iconic in its own right, The Fonda provided the perfect ambiance for fans and the band, where they performed three nights in a row. Since their formation in 2015, The Regrettes have showcased their punk rock roots, and in the process created and maintained a strong fanbase. The band is currently comprised of four members: Lydia Night (lead vocalist), Genessa Gariano (lead guitarist), Brooke Dickinson (Bass), and Drew Thompson (drums). When they come together, the passion and joy that they bring to the stage is palpable. 

The Regrettes opened up the night with “Anxieties (Out of Time)” before taking a moment to speak to the crowd.  Night expressed her gratitude on behalf of the entire band, and thanked the audience for their consistent support and love. As the setlist continued, they played crowd-pleasers like “ I Dare You” and “Monday.” Night then brought out River, a young girl, on stage and invited her to stay and dance. It was also at this time that Night encouraged the pit to open up so that everyone could line dance, which continued for a few songs. Throughout the night, Night interacted closely with fans who in return gave the band their full devotion. Audience members were dancing, jumping, and participating in fan projects throughout the night. She often got close to the barricade, and took selfies on fans phones while onstage, all while engaging and performing with the rest of the band. 

They continued with “Pumpkin” and “Juicebox” before Night left the stage. In her absence, Gariano, Dickinson, and Thompson took over the mics. They asked the crowd a variety of questions before ultimately just expressing how grateful they were for the band and their three night run at The Fonda. Night then returned to the stage with a reindeer antler headband, and the rest of the band followed suit by putting on other Christmas-themed accessories. They then jumped into a cover of “Last Christmas”  by Wham! The Regrettes made “Last Christmas” their own, and you could easily see how their performance was influenced by the punk rock that underscores and drives their work. Night, again, made a concerted effort to engage and connect with the crowd by splitting the venue in half. Each side sang the chorus, before ultimately coming back together to close out the song. 

As the night came to a close, The Regrettes played some of their most popular songs such as: “Barely on My Mind,” “That’s What Makes Me Love You,” and “La Di Da.” The emotion was palpable with both the band and the audience coming to a mutual understanding that the end of the final show was near. While waiting for the encore concert-goers sang their praises for the band. At the front of the pit, roses were handed out by fans. When the band came back on stage, they were overwhelmingly appreciative of the gesture by fans. Night herself brought flowers on stage with her, which she later threw to the crowd. Night then gave a shoutout to each member of the band, the audio crew, the management team, and the venue’s employees. She was choked up, and one could hear the sincerity in her voice as she reflected on her experience in the band. The rest of the band then turned their attention back to Night, highlighting how much they appreciated her. By this point, both members of the audience and band were trying to hold back tears so they jumped straight into “You’re So Fucking Pretty” to open the encore. The night took suggestions from the crowd for the next few songs of the encore and played “Picture Perfect,” “Red Light,” and “Show Me You Want Me.” Just before the end of the encore, Night started to crowd surf, and eventually, the entire band joined in with her. Shortly after, the concert came to a finish, and fans threw roses onstage as The Regrettes walked off together for the final time. 

Setlist: 

1. Anxieties (Out of Time)
2. Better Now 
3. California Friends 
4. I Dare You
5. Monday
6. Rosy 
7. Nowhere
8. Step 9 
9. Pumpkin
10. Juicebox Baby
11. Last Christmas – Wham Cover
12. Dress Up 
13. Barely on My Mind
14. Seashore
15. That’s What Makes Me Love You 
16. La Di Da

Encore: 

1. You’re So Fucking Pretty
2. Picture Perfect
3. Red Light
4. Show Me You Want Me

All photos by Boston Schulz