The Runarounds Deliver DC a Night of Indie Rock Bliss
Washington, D.C. - February 20, 2026
The Runarounds. Photo by Isaiah Pate via Big Feat PR.
It was a night full of stank-face-inducing guitar solos, deafening drum solos and Heated Rivalry jokes in Washington, D.C. as The Runarounds graced the hallowed stage of the 9:30 Club.
The five-piece stopped in Washington on the first leg of their North American Minivan Tour, bringing their restless indie rock sound to the U.S. capital. Even a half-hour after the doors opened, a line of eager fans, clad in “Sophia” name tags — a reference to the band’s eponymous Amazon Prime series — and the band’s signature retro-style merch, wrapped around V Street.
After opener Aestrea turned the club into a dreamscape with her spacey, synth-infused set, The Runarounds took the stage to the opening strings of Bad Bunny’s “MONACO,” the 20 headlight-like small spotlights strewn across the stage flashing orange. Instruments in hand, William Lipton (guitar/vocals), Axel Ellis (guitar/vocals), Jeremy Yun (guitar) and Jesse Golliher (bass/vocals) turned to face drummer Zendé Murdock, who counted the band in for an extended intro of “Ghosts” with the click of his drumsticks.
The one-two punch of “Ghosts” into “Cellophane” proved the perfect introduction, setting some of the night’s trends: a spotlight jumping between vocalists trading verses, seamless transitions between songs, and the sound of the crowd singing the lyrics as if they were the ones on stage.
Following a more up-tempo version of “Sophia,” Will reminisced on the last time the group played in Washington — opening for Axel’s other project, Ax and the Hatchetmen, in 2023 — and even recognized some returning fans on the barricade three years later. Crowd interactions also abounded throughout the evening, like Jesse borrowing an audience member’s black cowboy hat to sing the midwest emo track “15 Rootbeers” and Axel spewing multiple quips about being the warmup for the “Heated Rivalry” Dance Party happening at the 9:30 Club after.
Given the vigor that pours through The Runarounds’ discography when listening to their studio recordings, it only makes sense to expect a fiery live performance from the five 20-somethings. But certain moments in their 1.5 hour set made those expectations look like nothing. See the roar of the entire venue screaming, “Will we survive North Carolina?” in the bridge of “Minivan” as evidence.
Though the most memorable — and the most wonderfully deafening — moment of the night came with “Killed My Youth.” Zendé’s already in-your-face drum solo at the top of the song was extended for the live performance, his arms flying with reckless abandon as the sound of endless fills permeated the room.
Even during more demure songs, the band never stopped letting their personalities shine. “Beautiful Stranger” saw Will and Axel performing choreography, their in-sync, playful jumps and kicks punctuating Jeremy’s un-hurried guitar solo. For “Hypocrites,” Will urged fans to grab their loved ones as Axel and Jesse rested on amps, their guitar and bass resting on their laps.
New songs and covers also dotted the setlist, the former priming fans for some pop rock jams to come and the latter pumping them up with timeless classics. The Runarounds’ rendition of Jet’s iconic “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” paralleled the fictional first time they played together in Episode 1 of their show, which paralleled the band’s real-life first jam upon their 2021 formation.
Get tickets for the remainder of The Minivan Tour here.
When Will asked the crowd if anyone liked jazz, my instant reaction of confusion quickly turned into fascination when he announced the next track would be by none other than the great jazz trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie. Zendé queued up a swing beat, Jesse got to walking on the bass and Jeremy, Axel and Will meandered through the chord changes. Just as effortlessly as they slid into a jazz groove, they smoothly returned to their indie rock roots with the familiar first chord of “Funny How The Universe Works.”
Dedicating their final song pre-encore to the “senior citizens” in the room, the band delved into the bittersweet “Senior Year.” As the track reached its end, they played with so much verve I almost believed it was truly the last song of the night. Zendé’s whole body thrashed behind the drum set while Will, Jeremy, Jesse and Axel strummed aggressively, yet in perfect unison.
When the quintet strolled offstage and the house lights remained dim, it wasn’t long until the obligatory “one more song” chant erupted, the three words sounding almost as loud as the music coming through the speakers just minutes before. As if persuaded by the crowd, The Runarounds re-entered the stage and dove into a fierce cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.” Losing his guitar for the song, Axel brought the mic with him as he took to the barricade to serenade fans with the tune’s yearning lyrics.
Ending with their ultimate anthem, “Downtown,” The Runarounds brought their evening with Washington to a close with catharsis. The finale was made immaculate by the audience joining Will in screaming the iconic, “COME ON,” that bridges the song’s melancholy opening with the driving energy of its bulk.
Though post-concert depression may linger, a Runarounds concert guarantees one thing: they won’t leave you “Chasing The Good Times.”