The Live Return of Cute Is What We Aim For– The Soundtrack of Your Summer Festival
Photos by: Rachel Ford, Jocelyn Ratzer– Edited by daniella.psd
AUGUST 29, 2026 – Cute Is What We Aim For – Live in Boston: The Soundtrack Of Your Summer Festival.
I can still remember sitting at my computer desk in 2006 after I had already decided the best songs start with a little acapella moment due to Fall Out Boy’s 'Grand Theft Autumn'. So imagine my immense joy when I came across 'Newport Living' by Cute Is What We Aim For, which starts with their vocalist, Shaant Hacikyan, letting out: “EVERYONE’S A LET DOWN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW FAR DOWN THEY CAN GO.” I was hooked immediately. To me, Cute Is What We Aim For will always be the band that truly changed the meaning of the “pop” in pop-punk. I don’t think they get enough credit for how they changed the sound in the scene. If you like bands like Forever the Sickest Kids, The Summer Set, or Artist Vs. Poet, Cute Is What We Aim For opened the door for artists to make this fun, pop music with catchy choruses that was also just guitar-heavy enough that you would be called emo in high school for listening to it. As a long-time fan of Cute, I had come to terms with the fact that I’d probably never see them live again. That was until the Soundtrack of Your Summer Fest was announced.
On August 29th, 2026, I got to see Cute Is What We Aim For for the first time in 13 years. I took a bus from New York to Boston because I wouldn’t miss this show for the world. The second they hit the stage and started 'Newport Living', the energy in the venue was palpable. I spoke to a lot of people before the show who went just to see Cute, and you could tell. Their sound is so infectious that I heard people behind me who weren’t even familiar with the band start to sing “If you lie, you don’t deserve to have friends.”
If you’re familiar with Cute Is What We Aim For, you probably know that there have been a plethora of different members throughout the years. This reunion consisted of two original members, vocalist Shaant Hacikyan and drummer Tom Falcone. The 3 additional live members were RJ DeMarco on lead guitar, Joe White on bass, and Lance Claypool on rhythm guitar. As a whole, this group seemed cohesive, excited, and they sounded great. I wanted to especially give a shout-out to DeMarco, who seemed to be having the time of his life, and by the looks of his Instagram, is a long-time Cute fan. It’s so cool to see someone who grew up with them get to join them on stage.
The setlist consisted of all songs from the band’s debut album, The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch, with the exception of 'Practice Makes Perfect' off of their sophomore album, Rotation. It was the perfect setlist for the audience, as Blood Rush is the more nostalgic of the two, which seemed to be the theme of the night. I’m a big fan of Rotation, but I’ll let it slide for the sake of the fans.
From 'Newport Living' to 'Moan' to 'There’s a Class for This', the band did not let the energy drop for even a moment. I haven’t felt a thrill like that at a show in a very long time. I could not stop dancing, singing, or headbanging. It felt like the first time I’d heard these songs all over again. In a way, because it had been so long since I’d seen them live, there was a new life to them. Shaant’s voice sounded as crisp as ever, and he did not miss a beat returning to the stage. That is a frontman that commands the stage if I’ve ever seen one. I could feel Tom’s drum beats in my heart, and it was very clear to me that being a drummer is what he was meant to do. Even though the band is from Buffalo, NY, Boston felt like a true homecoming.
Cute Is What We Aim For’s return was exactly what it should’ve been. Nostalgic, fun, exciting, and heartfelt. You could really feel the love radiating not only from the fans, but from the band that has been a huge part of the soundtrack of our lives.
SCENE SNAPS
CUTE IS WHAT WE AIM FOR LIVE IN BOSTON SETLIST
NEWPORT LIVING
RISQUE
MOAN
SWEET TALK 101
CURSE OF CURVES
THERE'S A CLASS FOR THIS
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