Peter McPoland – First Avenue – Minneapolis MN – March 7th 2026

Peter McPoland (with Girl Tones) at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN – March 7, 2026

Review and photos by Catherine Zons

Recently, I made my way to First Avenue to catch a show I’ve been looking forward to for a while–Peter McPoland, and his opening act, Girl Tones. Being in the midst of preparations for my finals period at school, some of my friends couldn’t believe I was taking time to go downtown (“shouldn’t you be studying for your music theory exam right now?”) But it felt like a worthy use of my time–after all, seeing live music is always more exciting than studying it on a page.

The evening began with a short, energizing set by Girl Tones, a spunky rock duo from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Sisters Laila and Kenzie Crowe base their expressively unrestrained sound in their experience of classical musical training; Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and lead vocals, while Laila moved from piano to drums. The duo is working to release a debut album in the near future–and it’ll be a drop I’ll be excited for after seeing them perform at First Ave. The two had incredible stage presence. Kenzie engaged often with the crowd, drawing us in with catchy guitar riffs and unapologetic vocals–and then keeping us there with her constant movement. She was often laying down or off the stage entirely, singing and playing even as she jumped and danced. Laila’s steady rock drumbeat seemed to give her sister to go wild with her performance, and it was fantastic to watch the two work together so well with two very different levels of moveability. Overall, it was incredible how many cool sounds two people, their two voices, and their four hands could produce, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to the release of Girl Tones’ upcoming album. 

(P.S. give their tracks “Again,” “Volcano,” and their fantastic cover of Radiohead’s “High and Dry” a listen! You won’t regret it!)

After a short break, Peter McPoland took the stage and began his set with a slow and meditative rendition of “Dead Air” from his 2022 album Slow Down, a melancholic EP reflecting on growing up and getting older too quickly. Armed with a guitar and his more-than-capable backing band singing an a capella four-part harmony at the front of the stage, the performance came to life in a magical way. The loose, floating vocals were paired with fog machines and unusual orange stagelights to create an atmosphere almost like being in the clouds at sunset. It was dreamy and hazy, as though physically recreating the nostalgia that Slow Down wants to return to.

The first part of McPoland’s set followed this relaxed and reflective example, with slower tracks like “Good Day” and “What Do You Do To Me?” that kept the energy casual with acoustic instruments and easy melodies. Consisting of Landon Laney on bass, Joe Curtin on drums, and Josh Suarez on keys and guitar, McPoland’s backing band was integral to the success of the performance. Not only are they all fantastic musicians in their own rights, but they also had an effortless ability to jam with one another that definitely did not go unappreciated.

It wasn’t an entirely mellow set, though. The energy picked up with some fan favorite songs, like “Shit Show,” ”Rats,” and “Romeo & Juliet.” Between songs, McPoland also took time to tell stories or engage with the crowd. Partway into the performance, he realized he’d put on his belt wrong before coming on stage and took a moment to jokingly chastise the crowd for not telling him. Later, he mentioned it again: “I was gonna go through the whole set with my belt out of the loop and no one in this crowd was gonna tell me?” to which an audience member quipped back, “We just thought it was your thing!” to lots of laughter. I really appreciated the way McPoland addressed the crowd almost like a group of friends or peers, rather than an audience; it felt personal and fun!

“Digital Silence,” arguably McPoland’s biggest hit right now, finished off his set on an intense note. The track, a fast-paced and electric song about the overwhelming and isolating nature of the digital age. The lyrics describe the ironic way hyperconnectivity distances us from our humanity and from each other, which felt doubly ironic as the crowd unified to sing and dance along through the song’s duration.

McPoland said goodnight after an encore of “Last Looks” and “A Place Like This,” two tracks that returned to the contemplative energy of the beginning of the set. It was overall a wonderful way to spend a Saturday night, and a more-than-worthy way to get out of studying for a little while.