New York “Lights the Way”: Foxtide Live at Mercury Lounge
New York, New York - May 2, 2026
If you took a New York City map, adjusted it slightly south and a smidge west, you’d find that, right off of East Houston Street, lies a city gem. Home to coveted acts like The Strokes, The Killers, and Jeff Buckley, Mercury Lounge acts as the original hotspot for indie and alternative rock. With its impressive bills from the late 90’s to the early 2000’s, Mercury Lounge is rich in history, and next up was Foxtide with a sold-out show.
The San Diego-based trio consists of Elijah Gibbins-Croft (guitar/vocals), Oey James (bass/vocals), and Ian Robles (drums). With a swanky, surf-jazz sound, the band homes in on its seaside origins, especially on their latest LP, Entropy.
Even with an early set time, the line still stretched down the block. As I ventured to the back, I was met with multiple Canadian tuxedos, an ode to Oey himself. In preparation for the album, the band launched their “Make Him Run Campaign,” in which, if the album reached 10,000 pre-saves, Oey would run a full marathon in a Canadian tuxedo while holding his bass. With a whopping 10,038 saves, I hope he’s started training.
Joining Foxtide on this leg of the tour was Hallpass. The crowd ushered in as Hallpass set the tone with wailing guitar riffs and banging drums. From exhilarated vocals to flawless breakdowns, the Athens-based band delivered a killer opening set.
The crowd had little to no time to recover as Foxtide took the stage. The band opened with “Entropy,” the first and title track off their new album. Between the floaty instrumental and silky synth, this was more than just an opening number; this was an invitation, urging the crowd to take a journey into the artistry, and the crowd happily obliged.
The band then transported us to the seaside as they performed “Live by the Sun,” a track that revels in relaxation, with the intense instrumental contrasted by dreamy vocals. The stage lights burned a beaming yellow, similar to sunrays, on this sonically dazed track.
From there, they transitioned into “Heart in the Ground,” an anthemic track that seemed to be adopted straight from a 2000s soundtrack, with its tender lyrics caressing the hearts of the audience. The song captures the staticity of a breakup where one physically can’t move on, echoed with the line “I’ve waited, waited for you darling, thinking that you’re here.”
The band then performed “Chaos,” snapping the crowd back to reality. The band calls out humanity as we politely sit in our American homes despite inequity across the globe; however, “we can only watch the chaos for a while.” The audience responded in agreement as the crowd chanted, causing the lyrics to echo not only in the room but in hearts, too. Their performance amplified their message, as each instrument stood seemingly independent before coming back together, playing into the track’s full sonic potential. The howling guitar blended into the uproar of voices, and the pounding drums embodied the feet of the crowd, further enhancing the band’s message of coming together as a country to fight against injustice.
Fans came prepared, knowing the lyrics to all songs, old and new. The band slipped seamlessly into older tracks, as the crowd erupted with the opening note of “Am I in Love with You.” They then slowed it back down with a stripped-down acoustic performance of “Hand to Hand.” Keeping up the pace, flashlights lit up the room during “What Good Is the Rain.” Relishing in the tenderness, the band joked, “Wow, New York, you really lit the way.”
They then came full circle with “She’s Not Yours,” a veiled track that, sonically, encapsulates the group at its core. Its expansive structure, alongside its mournful lyrics, makes this elusive track a tribute to the band’s sound at its rawest form.
Not even seconds before the song ended, the crowd began chanting for an encore. The band delivered. Screams filled the venue as Hallpass returned, joining the band onstage for a hyperactive performance of “My Favorite Girl Loves Reading.”
The convergent harmony between Foxtide and Hallpass elevated the evening. There was an unspoken chemistry between them that threaded the night together. Hallpass hit like a lightning strike: sharp, immediate, electric, while Foxtide played the long game, building tension and keeping the crowd on edge, hungry for what was coming next. Together, it made for a truly unforgettable night. Be sure to catch them in a city near you!
