▣The Van Buren | Phoenix, Arizona  ▣Tuesday, March 23th 2026
▣Photographer/Journalist: Orion Knight

There’s something about certain bands that can instantly transport you somewhere else. For me, Almost Monday did exactly that before I even stepped foot inside The Van Buren in Phoenix on October 23. Bringing their Thank God It’s Almost Monday tour to Arizona, the San Diego indie pop trio delivered a performance that felt like a little piece of California sunshine in the middle of the desert.

I had never seen Almost Monday live before, and admittedly, I wasn’t all that familiar with their music going into the show. So, like I often do when photographing a band for the first time, I decided to listen to their music on the drive to the venue.

Within minutes, I found myself rolling down the windows and imagining I was back home in California, driving down Pacific Coast Highway with the ocean beside me and absolutely nowhere important to be.

The funny part? I had no idea they were from San Diego.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

Almost Monday has this unmistakable Southern California sound that feels like summer, sunshine, and the freedom of being young without a care in the world. It’s got that California surfer vibe, but not in the traditional Beach Boys sense. Instead, their music blends infectious indie pop melodies, groovy guitar riffs, and rhythms that make it almost impossible to sit still. It’s the kind of music you put on when you want to forget about your responsibilities for a little while and just enjoy being alive.

And if their recorded music made me feel that way, their live performance took it to another level.
From the moment frontman Dawson Daugherty took the stage, I knew this wasn’t going to be the typical indie pop performance I had expected. I’ve photographed plenty of bands over the years, and while indie pop artists can certainly bring energy, I wasn’t expecting the amount of movement and dancing Dawson brought to the stage.

The guy just doesn’t stop moving.

Whether he was dancing across the stage, getting lost in the music, or encouraging the crowd to join him, Dawson had an infectious energy that was genuinely fun to watch. There was something refreshing about seeing a frontman who seemed so completely immersed in the music he was performing.
And the crowd absolutely fed off it.

Throughout the night, The Van Buren became a room full of people dancing along, moving to the beat, and enjoying every moment. It wasn’t the kind of show where everyone simply stood around watching the band perform. Almost Monday made you want to be part of the experience.

As a concert photographer, those are some of my favorite performances to capture. There’s nothing quite like photographing an artist who brings that much personality and movement to the stage. Every time I thought I had a moment framed, Dawson was already somewhere else, giving me another reason to keep shooting.

What impressed me most, though, was how naturally the band’s music translated into a live setting. Their sound is already incredibly upbeat and fun on record, but hearing it live brought out an entirely different energy. The music felt bigger, the rhythms hit harder, and the connection between the band and audience made everything that much more enjoyable.

As someone who grew up in California, I couldn’t help but feel a little sense of pride watching a band from my home state bring that familiar West Coast energy to Phoenix. There’s something special about recognizing a piece of home in music, especially when you weren’t expecting to find it.

I walked into The Van Buren having only just started exploring Almost Monday’s music. I walked out wondering why it had taken me so long to discover them.

If you’ve never listened to Almost Monday, I highly recommend putting on their music the next time you’re driving somewhere, preferably with the windows down and the sun setting in the distance.

You might just find yourself mentally cruising down PCH, too.

Almost Monday didn’t just bring a great indie pop show to Phoenix. For one night, they brought a little piece of California with them.

Check out our contributor photographer, Orion Knight photos now!

ALMOST MONDAY

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Almost Monday