Live Shows: The Fray & Friends | Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre - July 27, 2026
The Fray brought their “Summer of Light” tour to Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix on July 27, celebrating the release of their latest album, A Light That Waits, which arrived in March. Joining them for a stacked night of music were Dashboard Confessional and Colony House, making for a lineup that blended fresh music with the nostalgia of the early 2000s.
The night started with Colony House, a band I had been meaning to listen to for quite some time at the recommendation of several friends. After seeing them live, I completely understand why they kept recommending them. From the moment the band stepped on stage, Colony House won over the crowd with their sound and stage presence. They kicked off their set with “Highwire,” a track from their recently released album, 77, with the remainder of their 8-song setlist featuring mostly favorites spanning their catalog. Their performance was a great introduction to a band that, for me, was a new discovery. I left the set knowing I needed to spend some time with their music. If this tour introduces more people to Colony House the way it introduced me, they are going to walk away with plenty of new fans.
Next up was Dashboard Confessional, who delivered exactly the kind of set longtime fans hoped for. Chris Carrabba took the stage alone with an acoustic guitar, illuminated by a single spotlight as fog drifted across the stage. Opening with “The Best Deceptions,” he barely had to sing the first few lines before the audience took over. Screaming back those lyrics with a room full of people reliving the soundtrack to their teenage heartbreak was incredibly cathartic. That’s the thing about Dashboard Confessional. These songs are tied to so many memories. For many people in the room, they were the soundtrack to high school, first relationships, heartbreaks, and all of the messy moments that come with growing up. Hearing thousands of people sing these songs back to the band was a reminder of just how meaningful these songs are, even after so many years.
The 13-song set included all of the favorites fans hoped to hear, including “Stolen,” “Vindicated,” and “Screaming Infidelities.” The crowd passionately sang along to every word, while Carrabba’s effortless stage presence and the band’s tight performance kept the energy high throughout the entire set. The band also gave fans a preview of what is ahead with “No More Bad Days,” an unreleased track from their upcoming record. It was exciting to hear something new mixed in with the classics, and based on this first taste, the next chapter of Dashboard Confessional is one to look forward to. The band wrapped things up with “Hands Down” for one final singalong before The Fray took the stage.
The stage filled with haze as the lights dimmed, and The Fray opened the night with the title track from their newest album, A Light That Waits. Frontman Joe King emerged, silhouetted behind the stage before stepping forward into the light, a dramatic entrance and a perfect introduction to the era they are currently celebrating.
The Fray’s music has always carried a certain nostalgia, with songs that have followed people through so many chapters of their lives. The connection to the music was evident as you looked around the venue, fans passionately singing along to every word throughout the evening, some with tears in their eyes.
Joe King is such a magnetic frontman, owning the stage in a way that makes it hard to look away. All throughout the night, he was in constant motion, dancing and interacting with the crowd without missing a note. His vocals were flawless all night, while the band delivered an incredibly tight performance. The production was also one of the highlights of the show, with a lighting design that was beautiful throughout the entire performance, the colors and shadows perfectly complementing the mood of each song.
The setlist balanced the new album with the songs fans came hoping to hear. “Hurricane” was an early highlight and has quickly become one of my favorite songs from the band. “She Is” was another standout, bringing a more emotional moment to the set. Then came the songs that everyone knew by heart: “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “Never Say Never,” “Love Don’t Die,” and “You Found Me.” Those songs hit differently live. Hearing an entire theater sing along to music that has been around for nearly 20 years is a pretty special experience.
One of my favorite moments of the night came during “My Heart’s a Crowded Room.” King made his way over the barricade and into the audience, dancing with fans while the entire room sang along. Fans reached out to him, danced beside him, and soaked in every second as he made his way through the crowd.
The encore saw King return for a solo acoustic moment with “Sea Level Drive” before he was joined by the rest of the band, building toward the moment everyone was waiting for. There are certain songs that do not need an introduction. Everyone knows them. Everyone knows the words. And for a few minutes, Arizona Financial Theatre belonged to the fans as they sang along to “How to Save a Life.” The band closed out the night with “With A Little Help From My Friends,” joined by members of Colony House, Dashboard Confessional, and their crew. It was a fun, unexpected ending that turned the final moments of the show into a celebration of everyone who helped bring the tour together.
The “Summer of Light” tour is one fans of alternative rock will not want to miss. Colony House proved they are a band worth discovering, Dashboard Confessional once again reminded everyone why they remain one of the genre’s most beloved live acts, and The Fray delivered a performance filled with heart, incredible musicianship, and songs that have soundtracked the lives of fans for over two decades. If this tour is coming to your city, do yourself a favor and catch a show. You will be glad you did.
