The Royale Hosts the Royals
Algernon Cal...Callwad. Cadwalld... Calladwall... Cadwallader! Plus special guests...
A Return Home
Man, I haven’t been to the Royale in Boston, Massachusetts, since 2022 to see Cuco live. Considering this was my very first show— at least in Boston— I had loved this venue and dreamed of going back to it ever since. But, no artists I liked ever showed up at the Royale. That is, until, December 9, when Algernon Cadwallader, The Ergs, and Joyce Manor showed up for one hell of a show. I saw that show announcement for the 10 year anniversary of Never Hungover Again by Joyce Manor and immediately got to looking for something to write about.
I did some digging into Algernon Cadwallader and immediately fell in love with their sound. My first impression of this emo revival band that hailed as a cornerstone of the genre’s resurgence made my jaw drop. Coming from Yardley, Pennsylvania, Algernon Cadwallader is very well known for their guitar riffs, lyrics, and most importantly, their DIY ethos. They’ve truly made their legacy as an icon of modern emo!
Some More Digging…
Algernon Cadwallader got their start in 2005, coming out of the quiet suburbs near Philadelphia with a sound that quickly became a defining part of the emo revival of the 2000s. Inspired heavily by ‘90s emo trailblazers like Cap’n Jazz and The Beatles, they brought their own quirky, energetic style to the scene, making them stand out from the start.
Their group was driven by bassist and vocalist Peter Helmis, alongside guitarists Joe Reinhart and Colin Mahony. Drummers Nick Tazza and, later, Matt “Tank” Bergman rounded out the lineup, creating a sound that balanced technical precision with raw emotion.
In 2008, they released Some Kind of Cadwallader, an album that captured the essence of their style with jangly, intricate guitars, lively rhythms, and Helmis’s one-of-a-kind vocals. By 2011’s Parrot Flies, they were exploring new ground, adding depth and complexity to their already distinctive sound.
Known for their DIY ethic and deeply personal music, Algernon Cadwallader built a loyal following before going on a hiatus and later reuniting on a North American tour as of June 1st, 2022, with the original band lineup. This long awaited return not only reignited interest in their discography but also introduced their music to a new generation of listeners.
Even after their split, Algernon Cadwallader’s influence on the emo and indie scenes remained strong. Bands across the globe have cited their music as a major inspiration, such as a band quite a lot of people know to this day, Mom Jeans. Their legacy only grew with time.
Learning, But What For?
After reading more and more about Algernon Cadwallader from interviews and hearing about them from others, I knew it was my time to shine. Back on a tour in 2012, Joyce Manor and Algernon Cadwallader had previously toured with each other before the band had broken up. They were invited on the Never Hungover Again anniversary tour, in which marks another amazing journey just 12 years later. It’s truly amazing to see something like this happen, at least to me, since they’re connecting with older roots and making more memories to come.
Some Kind of Cadwallader Performs
Algernon Cadwallader took the stage sometime around 8:20 PM, right after The Ergs made their presence. I remember standing in line and talking to someone— I went “I really hope they don’t open with Look Down since I’ll be in the photo pit”. You’d never guess what they did. They opened with my favourite Algernon Cadwallader song! I was psyched to shoot during that— not only was this song such a perfect opener for their set, but it gave a great overview of their sound for new listeners.
I turned around a few times to make sure I wasn’t backing into anyone who was up front at barrier and saw so many people smiling and really taking in the song. This really proves Algernon has what it takes to get a crowd to catch their vibe. So many years later with their original line up, Algernon Cadwallader still maintained their sound from their first releases back in the day.
I remember turning around after their self titled track for the album, Some Kind of Cadwallader, and saw that crowd moving. I have never seen so many people enthusiastic over an opener before and it was such an amazing sight to see! So many people jumping around to the crafty riffs coming from such an influential band. Algernon Cadwallader knows how to start a pit— and they do it effortlessly.
The rest of the show, I could only feel the music in my feet. Each song after another had my adrenaline going through the roof! It was only a matter of time before I started to slow down towards the end of their set, and realised how much I missed out on not listening to Algernon Cadwallader anytime earlier. Their set ended, in which I frowned because I was having such a great time, but that individual set felt like it was on for so much longer.
There was something about this show that was so… *chefs kiss*. It was an absolute pleasure to mark this monumental show for Algernon Cadwallader, as they’ve worked so hard to continue their legacy they once had began in the 2010’s. I’m super excited to see what’s to come from Algernon Cadwallader in the future!
Check Out Algernon Cadwallader!
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