The Paradox at Mercury Lounge on November 8th and 9th

Pop Punk isn’t dead! The Paradox embarks on a nearly sold-out tour across the US this fall in support of their upcoming EP, Proceed With Caution, out on October 2nd. They’ll be bringing the fun to NYC for two back-to-back shows at Mercury Lounge on November 8th and 9th with special guests Meet Me @ The Altar.

Formed in Atlanta in 2024 by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Eric Dangerfield, vocalist and lead guitarist Christopher “Xelan” Bernard, bassist Donald Bryant, and drummer Percy “PC3” Crews III, The Paradox began posting covers on Instagram and received over 730,000 followers within the first month. The band immediately went viral upon the release of their first song “Kaitlyn,” which caught the attention of pop-punk icons Green Day who invited the band to open their massive stadium show in Atlanta (they were also asked by Jack White to open at a small club show). In 2025, the band released their debut EP, NSFW, through Hundred Days Records (a subsidiary of Virgin Records), including a feature from the legendary drummer of Blink-182, Travis Barker, on “Bender” and making history with the hit song, “Get the Message,” becoming the first track by an all-black band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. 

The Paradox has performed at major festivals during their rapid rise to fame including When We Were Young and Vans Warped Tour where they were joined by Barker for “Bender” and a cover of Blink’s “Rock Show,” with Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley and Big Time Rush’s Logan Henderson also making guest appearances. The band also brought their killer live show to NPR’s Tiny Desk for their Black Music Month celebration which featured bands that “reflect the essence of Black music,” a sentiment echoed by Dangerfield’s declaration that “The Paradox is in the business of bringing rock and roll back to the originators.” Other standout moments included PC3 playing a drum solo ending with a perfectly executed transition into the newly released “Good For Me” by means of a sample pad hit, a sung note holding contest, and reimaginings of parts of their songs in other Black music genres including a reggae opening for “Ms. Lauren” (before yelling “get the fuck up” and launching into the “Dammit”-inspired riff) and a doo wop overture to “Bender,” complete with soulful backing oooos.

The band is set to release their second EP, Proceed With Caution, on October 2nd from which they have already released “Good For Me” and “I Kinda Like That” with its absolutely ripping, melody-mimicking guitar solo. Known for their rebellious spirit (performing their upcoming song “That’s Not Fair” on Wall Street, protesting a cease and desist from Subaru, etc.), playful and drawn-from-life’s-chaos lyrics (an ex trying to run Dangerfield over with her car, having a crush on a teacher), MTV-era music videos, Tom Delonge-esque vocals, earworm hooks, beautiful harmonies, and sing-along refrains, The Paradox’s brand of Black pop-punk feels both fresh and familiar. With their high-energy live shows featuring Xelan’s tasty lead parts, Bryant’s thumping bass, PC3’s monster (often shirtless) drumming, and Dangerfield’s infectiously charismatic frontman presence, there’s no question as to why their ascension happened so quickly and with such force. Gaining thousands of fans, selling out tours, and receiving shoutouts from Joel Madden, Kid Cudi, SZA, and LeBron James, all before even releasing a full-length album, they are arguably the most exciting new artist in punk.

Catch The Paradox at Mercury Lounge on November 8th and 9th!

How To Get The Paradox at Mercury Lounge Tickets

Tickets are available here for November 8th and here for November 9th.

Location: Mercury Lounge

Address: 217 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Show Time: 6 p.m.

Doors Open: 5 p.m. 

Ticket Price: $166-$421

Ages: 16+ (unless accompanied by a parent or guardian)