Hit The Lights Deliver the Ultimate Anniversary Set in Asbury Park

Name: FOUR CHORD MUSIC FEST
Start: 2026-09-25
Location: F.N.B STADIUM

TOP8 Scene
3 days ago
3 min read

hit the lights tour this is a stickup.... top8 scene — Photos: IzzyBelle

Hit The Lights just wrapped up the first leg of their This is a stick up … 20-year anniversary tour. You already know how excited we were about this run.

The album This Is A Stick Up… Don’t Make It A Murder came out two decades ago and still has a huge impact on the scene because of how iconic it is, and we were more than happy to see that the band decided to honor the record on this anniversary with an entire tour.

There’s something special about seeing Hit the Lights take over a room completely packed with fans who grew up on this album. The vibes were immediate, and you could instantly tell how meaningful the night would be for the full house.

On May 14, HTL hit The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, and it was nothing but nostalgic, energetic, and one of the most fun shows out there. Supported by Major League, Public Works, and Rematch, the night carried nonstop energy from the very first set all the way through the very end of Hit the Lights’ set.

Being at a Hit The Lights show, you can always expect the best time ever. Frontman Nick Thompson stayed heavily engaged with fans throughout the set, letting audience members grab the mic to sing along and joking with the crowd between songs. Safe to say the night got personal and was special for the entire room.

One of the most memorable moments came down to a stripped-down performance of “100 Times.” With Thompson alone onstage, the atmosphere shifted completely. What had been a night full of high energy suddenly became something softer. There was definitely a lot of love throughout the entire room in that moment.

The Stone Pony has a strict no-crowdsurfing rule, but in true HTL fan fashion, concert-goers couldn’t help themselves once “Bodybag” kicked in, forcing security to rush toward the barricade as surfers flew overhead. You know it’s genuinely a great pop-punk show when concert-goers can't help themselves and the room won't stop moving.

TOP8’s Take?

At the end of the day, you already know how we feel about Hit The Lights. They fed us with rad tunes at the end of 2025, and now they’re continuing to feed us with shows. Everything they do is intentional, from the coolest merch to fan moments; this band truly cares about making their gigs an enjoyable experience from start to finish. We’re excited to see what the second leg of this tour brings, and know that 2026 will continue to be a great one for Hit The Lights. It’s obvious, we’re forever team HTL. Check out a show if you can, you won’t regret it.