Rise Against, Destroy Boys & Koyo
March 11, 2026
History, Toronto, ON
Punk rock legends Rise Against have been a staple within the genre since their debut album the Unraveling dropped in 2001. For two decades Rise Against has remained top of mind with their iconic anthems and catchy song writing. On March 11th 2026 Rise Against played their second night in a row in Toronto at History. Opening the show was Koyo and Destroy Boys.
Koyo has only been around for a brief time but has quickly grown to be one of punk/hardcore’s premiere up and comers. Hailing from Long Island, Koyo came ready to play their brand of catchy riffs and pop punk influenced choruses. The energy that Koyo exhibits on stage makes for an exhilarating watch. Every song is packed with so much musicality and a sense of sincerity that is greatly appreciated. Since becoming aware of Koyo, they have quickly become a band I am closely watching as they grow and release awesome music. Coming off of two new songs, the new Koyo record (slated for a May 2026 release) will be sure to make waves as it’s some of their best material to date.
Destroy Boys might have stolen the show for me. Their entire set was captivating through their entertaining stage presence and songs that absolutely rock. Their sound is a little less polished than their contemporaries, harkening back to a more stripped back, less produced and gritty form of punk. In a world where so many heavy albums are so polished and produced, Destroy Boys is providing a much appreciated alternative. Their performance was so tight and the songs are filled with so much style that you can’t help but nod along to their catchy mid-paced tunes. Their setlist was a nice mix of songs scattered throughout their discography which packs a nice variety. The crowd was incredibly receptive to their performance and I felt that a good majority of the audience came for their set. Destroy Boys further proves that the future of punk is femme and the future is looking bright. I highly recommend checking out their discography and catching one of their shows when they inevitably return for a headlining tour.
Rise Against is a band that needs no introduction. They’re modern punk legends that helped establish the 2000’s sound through their political anthems and catchy songs. Their setlist felt like a celebration of some of their classic mid-career output. The setlist predominantly featured songs from Appeal to Reason & Endgame which is great for me since I’m admittedly nostalgic for that era of the band. Their performance was very tight and it was nice to see the guitarist and the bass player do some impeccable vocal harmonies. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath has an iconic voice and it’s such a treat knowing his voice has been preserved after all this time. It was my first time seeing Rise Against perform and I’ll surely be doing so again. I love to see this band still thriving and staying true to their core values after all this time.
This Rise Against tour was an absolute treat. All three of the bands brought something unique to the table and displayed a lovely variety of the punk sound. Koyo and Destroy Boys were perfect openers for this show and it’s amazing to see these younger bands tour with such established legends within their scene. Catch one of the remaining dates if you can, you won’t regret it.
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