“Catch this band in a small club before they truly ‘take off’.”
March 26, 2026 — Space Ballroom
There’s something different about a hometown show when a band is right on the edge of breaking out—and that’s exactly what it felt like inside Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT on Friday night. The venue holds maybe a few hundred people, all standing, all packed in tight—and for Kids That Fly, it might as well have been an arena. The place was wall-to-wall with young fans, many already decked out in band merch, singing every word like these songs have been part of their lives for years.
This was the first show of a 25-date tour—mostly headlining—and if there were any nerves, they didn’t show. Kids That Fly came out polished, locked in, and fully in control of the room.
The night kicked off with the band, Similar Kind, who set a strong tone early with a clean, melodic indie-rock set that warmed the crowd up quickly. Sum Sun followed and kept the momentum going, leaning into an upbeat, groove-driven vibe that had the floor moving before the headliners even hit the stage. By the time Kids That Fly took over, the room was already buzzing.
And then it was lift-off.
Opening with “If You Wanna” the band wasted no time pulling the crowd in. “Can You Hold That Tight?” and “Girl Like Her” kept things moving early, with the crowd already fully engaged. “The Boxer” and “Talk of The Town” followed, both landing like established favorites, before the band leaned into the emotional pull of “Heart Away” and “Hazel.”
“Lovesick” and “For The Night” carried that momentum forward, while “Sunday in London” and “Dreams” showcased the band’s ability to balance melody with a strong rhythmic backbone. “Undressed” and “Kiss Her You Fool” turned into full-on singalongs, with fans shouting lyrics at each other just as much as toward the stage—a scene that perfectly captured the energy in the room.
Frontman Nick Smeriglio owned the moment. He stepped out in a flight-style bomber jacket covered in patches—a fitting look for a band clearly ready for takeoff—but it was when he peeled it off mid-set, revealing a plain white tee, that the crowd (especially the female contingent up front) let out a wave of screams that felt somewhere between a rock show and a pop frenzy. He knows exactly how to work a room, without overplaying it.
Musically, the band is tight—really tight. Braden Frandino’s bass sits deep in the pocket, locking in with Adam Machado’s drums, which drive the set with precision and energy. Blake Henry handles lead guitar duties, adding punch and clarity throughout. Everything is dialed in, but nothing feels overworked—it still breathes.
“High Line” and “Goner” added a little edge late in the set, setting up “Dead Beat City.” Before launching into it, Nick took a moment to connect with the hometown crowd, joking that as a Connecticut band, he could confidently say that Hamden is definitely not a dead beat city. It landed perfectly—half laugh, half cheer—and rolled right into one of the more driving songs of the night, with the crowd fully locked in.
The encore, “Look in Your Eyes,” felt like a victory lap—and a statement.
One of the most genuine moments of the night didn’t happen on stage, though. With the band hailing from Connecticut, family was in the building—literally. The parents of the band members were there, all wearing Kids That Fly t-shirts, proudly taking it all in. After the show, seeing the four mothers gathered together for photos was one of those real, grounding scenes—a reminder that this is still the early chapter of something that’s about to get much bigger.
There’s history here, too. Kids That Fly have been steadily building over the past few years, carving out a sound that blends sharp pop-rock songwriting with a clean, modern edge. They’ve put in the work—touring, refining, tightening—and it shows. I caught them back in December 2025 opening for Dogpark at Irving Plaza in NYC, and even then it was clear they had more in them than an opening slot. Now, as a headliner, it fits.
They’ve got a new record on the horizon, and if this set is any indication, it’s going to push them even further. The songs already feel road-tested and ready, and the crowd response suggests they won’t stay in rooms like this much longer.
That’s the takeaway from this night.
Catch this band in a small club while you still can. Because everything about Kids That Fly—from the songwriting to the stage presence to the audience connection—points to a band that’s not just rising, but ready to take off.
They’re built for bigger stages. And they’re about to get them.
