I Have The Cure For Your Sunday Scaries: Seeing Almost Monday Live.

LIVE REVIEW | MONDAY 23RD JUNE 2025.

Almost Monday are currently on their ‘The Dive Tour – Part 2’ in Europe and they kick start it off in Cardiff, at The Globe on Monday 23rd June. The band is known for their energetic live shows that blend indie pop with surf rock and their Cardiff show didn’t disappoint – leaving everyone feeling sun kissed and ready to face the world again. 

For me all roads lead back to Cambridge, but for Almost Monday all roads lead back to San Diego, or in this case on Monday 23rd June, it led us both to The Globe in Cardiff.

You could have fooled me into thinking I was on the Californian coast and not in the middle of The Globe on Monday with the way Almost Monday brought their signature shimmery, sun-soaked sound to the Welsh capital. 

From start to finish, the show was a whirlwind of girls screaming, friends dancing and me running around with my camera, proving exactly why this band is swiftly becoming a must-see act. I truly had the time of my life – it was a night overflowing with the kind of vibrant, carefree spirit their music embodies, it felt like bottled sunshine had been uncorked and was let loose on the stage.

Before the lights dimmed and the show started, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the band and our chat immediately revealed the genuine warmth and excitement that can be heard through their music. Lead singer Dawson Daugherty shared that he and bassist Luke Fabry have been friends since childhood, growing up together. Guitarist Cole Clisby joined later through a shared love of surfing – “He’s a great surfer,” Dawson laughed, “so I think I was really impressed by that.” From those sun-kissed roots, Almost Monday was born and as Dawson put it, “we’ve never looked back.”

Their excitement for hitting new places they’ve never played in before, was palpable.  “Getting to play in a place you’ve never been and realizing that there’s a few people that know the songs and want to come and see it is, like, always a light bulb moment … It’s really exciting and validating.” Dawson shared and truth be told, that sense of excitement translated directly to the stage, where they seemed genuinely thrilled to be sharing their music with the audience.  

During our chat, we delved into the realities of life on the road and all of the things you should (or maybe shouldn’t do!) to keep sane on tour. Luke shared a brilliant truth about touring: “if you’re having fun, you can get through a lot of tiredness, so make sure you do everything … enjoy the surroundings.” Cole chimed in, noting that sometimes they’ll even try to make each other laugh on stage to break the tension of a long tour, making each show a unique experience. Dawson echoed this, emphasizing the importance of “reconnecting to the first time we played the set…trying to stay connected to why you love those songs.” It made me realize how much dedication it takes to deliver that consistent energy every night, something I definitely appreciated watching them perform.

Almost Monday’s debut album Dive is a perfect reflection of their San Diego roots, though the band insists it’s not a conscious decision, just “something natural that kind of comes out within the songwriting process.” That effortless summery shimmer was in full force at The Globe, making the whole room feel lighter. Which I think, is something we all need to feel right now.

 

One of the most enjoyable moments of our interview revolved around a certain lyric. When I asked the band if there was a lyric they are particularly resonating with right now, Dawson immediately leaned forward, connecting it back to something we had spoken about earlier. “One of the lines in our song is ‘Nice to meet ya, she’s a barista’ so you are a barista and it’s nice to meet you!” he exclaimed, referencing my part-time job I’d mentioned earlier. And apparently I’m not the only one (will I ever have an original experience?!) – as they have even had fans turn up to shows in their Starbucks uniform. Dawson then went on to share his surprising fact about himself which included a detailed explanation on ‘Hollywood hedges’ (shout out hedge lovers on Instagram … “when I see one, I just get stoked!”) and Luke’s love for fantasy novels (“Yes I love fantasy … but no, I actually don’t. This is the first fantasy book I’ve read in a long time.”) as well as Cole’s love for Pokemon (“I got challenged by Rafa and I beat him. It’s a good way to bond with the boys.”) revealed the wonderful personalities behind their music.

Back on stage, Almost Monday delivered a set bursting at the seams with energy. They wasted no time in igniting the crowd, Dawson’s stage presence could be felt from everywhere in the venue, drawing the audience in from the get-go.

Their approach to live performances is clearly rooted in joy and excitement, and I could feel it radiating off of them the whole way through their set. “It’s fun to see people enjoying themselves,” Luke shared, adding that his ‘holy grail’ is seeing someone “that shouldn’t like your music, really into it.” Dawson elaborated on the challenge of keeping each show fresh: “it’s always about reconnecting to the first time we played the set … trying to stay connected to why you love those songs.” 

A definite highlight of the night was when they launched into ‘she likes sports’. It felt like the energy in the room was instantly cranked up a notch, bodies moving, lyrics being shouted back even louder than before … and all of a sudden, the room felt like it had been turned into a stadium. The girls around me were dancing like no one was watching, the lights were blinding and everyone was just so incredibly happy to be there, myself included. And this is what it’s all about, isn’t it? 

Watching them play, I felt like I didn’t have a care in the world. 

Their unique fusion of indie-pop and surf-rock melodies created an euphoric atmosphere, the entire band a true force to be reckoned with. It was at this gig, I came to a similar realization that I always come to. Sometimes all you need to do is stand with a bunch of strangers in the back of a crowd and dance around for a little bit. It was exactly what I needed and after a tough couple of weeks, having this shared, joyful experience with everyone around me, I felt refreshed and ready to face the world again. And, that’s the magic Almost Monday creates. Creating serotonin-filled tracks that have you smiling from ear to ear and your feet hurting from dancing so much. 

Looking ahead, the band mentioned playing major festivals this summer like Lollapalooza Berlin and Paris and confirmed they’re working on new music. If their performance at The Globe was anything to go by, I have a feeling their new material will be just as electrifying.

Almost Monday’s show at The Globe proved that they are more than capable of headlining a show, delivering a performance dripped with sunkissed confidence. The energy in the room was electric from start to finish, Almost Monday extending you with an invitation to let go … and letting go is exactly what I did. However that looks for you, in whatever way you can, I grabbed the moment with both hands and simply put: had fun.  

It was a lively, sun-dazed experience, filling all of the people in that room up with an abundance of positive energy to spread through the rest of June and, honestly, through the next few months too.

If they’re playing near you, I wholeheartedly recommend you experience their piece of San Diego sunshine live – I promise you, you won’t regret it. I certainly didn’t.

Written by: Meg Ivy Brunning.

Photos by: Meg Ivy Brunning.