Pop-punk, emo, and indie rock kids (and adults, cause do we ever really grow up?) unite, Joyce Manor is back on tour! This time touring the release of their latest punchy record, I Used to Go to This Bar, that came out early this year. On March 9th, Torrence, California’s Joyce Manor commenced their 2026 North American tour with support from Combat, Teenage Mortgage, and Militarie Gun (ooh-ooh). On a Monday night at The Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenicians shook off the Monday sleepies and made a sweaty 1,800-cap room feel transportive.

After the supporting acts readied the crowd (shoutout to Combat, who, despite being the first band on the bill with the shortest set, delivered stage presence, face melting guitar solos, and fan engagement that matched the big-show energy of their Jeff Rosenstock inspired sound), the lights dimmed and anticipation built for Joyce Manor to take the stage. The audience, rowdy and excited, loudly welcomed the smiling members of Joyce Manor as they walked, Miller Lites in hand, to their unlit positions: Barry Johnson (lead vocals, guitar), Matt Ebert (bass, backing vocals), Chase Knobbe (guitar with a splash of harmonica), Neil Berthier (guitar, backing vocals, and keys), and Jared Shavelson (drums). 

Just as the lights started to come up, the slightest static hum filled the room, the kind of sensation that makes your hair stand on end, as amps were turned on and eagerly awaited to burst out those electric first notes. Joyce Manor wasted no time, launching straight into “I Know Where Mark Chen Lives;” what a song to start off the setlist and tour. “I Know Where Mark Chen Lives,” being the first song off the latest record, felt only natural as the perfect jumping off point to start their tour. Just as the chorus of the song echoed, the show carried the same angsty energy as a “freight train coming down the track.” 

Madness ensued for the next hour. A constant brigade of fans surged back and forth like ocean tides, accompanied by bodies surfing along the tops of an endless sea of hands. Through the entirety of Joyce Manor’s set, the crowd didn’t just sing the lyrics, their voices took over The Van Buren. The crowd belted out lyrics of new and old hits alike with such ferocity that at times drowned out Barry’s voice. The band ripped through staples like  “Heart Tattoo,” “Leather Jacket,” while the newly anthemic song “All My Friends Are So Depressed” erupted the room, proving Joyce Manor still delivers irresistibly catchy pop-punk songs.  

The band tore through a well crafted 23 song setlist that included eight out of the nine songs from I Used to Go to This Bar. To the delight of all of us folk punk fans and harmonica enthusiasts, the band included one of their oldest yet also newly released songs, “Well, Don’t It Seem Like You’ve Been Here Before?” (previously released as an early home recording titled “F**k Koalacaust”), which of course is highlighted by Chase’s harmonica solo. 

Nearing the end of their setlist, Barry, in sarcastic fashion, asked the crowd, “Are we playing too many new songs? Well, here is another one” before firing straight into the decade old fan-favorite “Constant Headache.” The subsequent 3 minutes passed in a blur, a constant stream of fans crowd surfing into the arms of security as they screamed the lyrics alongside the band and the rest of us packed inside The Van Buren. As the freight train of a set neared the end of its track, Joyce Manor returned to the stage for a three song encore. First playing “Well, Whatever It Was,” a single released last fall ahead of their 2026 record, before tearing through “Orange Julius” and “Five Beer Plan” to put their finishing touches on the night.

The I Used to Go to This Bar Tour continues in its current iteration throughout the US and Canada till mid May before Joyce Manor joins Hot Mulligan for the June leg of their tour.Catch one of the best touring lineups on the road right now. My only advice: do what's good for you. Go see the punk show, just remember to stretch.

Photos and Review by Matt Campbell