Site icon DANCE YOUR FACE OFF!

LETTERS TO CLEO – PARADISE ROCK CLUB – 11/28/2025

Jason Hanney
LETTERS TO CLEO - PARADISE ROCK CLUB - 11/28/2025
 

Letters to Cleo kicked off their annual hometown “Throwdown” at the Paradise Rock Club on Friday night with the kind of energy, charm, and unfiltered joy that only a band playing for their people can deliver. Night one of their two-night stand was a sold-out, wall-to-wall-packed homecoming, drawing a crowd that skewed toward longtime, middle-aged fans but still carried the spirited mix of ages that a band with genuine Boston roots tends to attract. Though I’d been familiar with their music for years, this was my first time seeing them live and from the first chords of “Demon Rock,” it became immediately clear why this November tradition, revived annually since 2018 (minus the pandemic-era 2020), has become a beloved ritual. Fun note: Every band member wore a shirt with their first name printed on it, like some sort of pop-rock summer camp roll call. It was goofy, self-aware, and totally perfect for a night built on nostalgia and community.

Review and Pictures by Max Cross

SET ONE

The band didn’t ease into the night. Instead, they dove headfirst into Wholesale Meats and Fish, performing the entire album in sequence. It was a rare treat and a smart move for a crowd that clearly adores that era of their catalog. Kay Hanley was a magnetic presence from the jump: confident, playful, and visibly delighted to be on home turf. She bantered freely with the audience, cracked jokes between songs, and punctuated choruses with the occasional high-kick dance, perhaps a nod to her Punk Rock roots.

Behind the kit was original drummer Stacy Jones, now widely known for his work with Miley Cyrus and as the frontman of American Hi-Fi (anyone remember “Flavor of the Week”?). Hearing him slam through these classic tracks gave the set a muscular but joyful snap; he looked just as happy to be there as the fans were to have him. Album cuts like “Laudanum,” “Pizza Cutter,” and “Little Rosa” were highlights—tight, punchy, and performed with the enthusiasm of a band who still likes playing their old songs.

SET TWO

After wrapping the album play-through, the band returned for a second set full of crowd-pleasers. “Find You Dead” and “Big Star” locked in with particularly sharp energy, but the emotional peak of the night, at least for me, was “Here & Now.” Hearing that unmistakable ’90s alt-pop “chick rock” gem live—complete with a crowd singing almost every word (man, that part of the chorus is sung fast) —was a genuine thrill. I also kept my fingers crossed for their excellent cover of “Cruel to Be Kind” from 10 Things I Hate About You, but alas, it wasn’t in the cards this year. A small disappointment, but the rest of the set more than made up for it. Their “I Want You to Want Me” cover in particular, absolutely ripped and delivered with the kind of grin that spreads across a whole room.
 
More than anything, this show felt like a love letter—to Boston, to longtime fans, to the band’s own history, and to the genre they helped define in the ’90s. It was fun, loud, heartfelt, and effortlessly cool. Kay Hanley in particular remains a powerhouse, giving off the aura of someone who’s never stopped loving the craft or the connection. As someone seeing them for the first time, I left understanding immediately why this annual Thanksgiving week tradition remains so cherished. 
« ‹ of 27 › »

SETLIST

Set 1: Wholesale Meats and Fish album in full

1. Demon Rock 
2. Fast Way 
3. Jennifer 
4. Awake 
5. Laudanum 
6. Acid Jed 
7. Pizza Cutter 
8. St. Peter 
9. Little Rosa 
10. Do What You Want, Yeah 
11. He’s Got an Answer 
12. I Could Sleep (The Wuss Song)
 


Set 2:

1. Find You Dead 
2. Veda Very Shining 
3. Big Star 
4. After the Fall 
5. Here & Now 
6. Because of You 
Encore:
7. 4 Leaf Clover 
8. I Want You to Want Me (Cheap Trick cover) 
9. Rim Shak

KEEPING UP WITH LETTERS TO CLEO

Letters to Cleo currently have no tour dates listed for the remainder of the year. They also don’t have anything announced for the upcoming year as of now. To keep up on the latest news and announcements, head to the links provided below! 

LETTERS TO CLEO – WEBSITE – X – FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM

PARADISE ROCK CLUB – WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – X – YOUTUBE 

MAX CROSS PHOTOGRAPHY – WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM 

DANCE YOUR FACE OFF – WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM – FACEBOOK – X – YOUTUBE 

Exit mobile version