New Found Glory proved that pop punk can age like fine wine with their performance at the 02 Academy Glasgow. Tonight they were joined by Real Friends and Koyo.
New Found Glory – Real Friends – Koyo
O2 Academy Glasgow – 14 October 2025
Words And Photography: Razorrhead Productions
It takes me back to my teen years, seeing this young band appear on Scuzz and Kerrang on a regular basis. Pop punk really took the world by storm during the early 2000s, but now it was time to see if it was still relevant today in the live music world.
New Found Glory
Seen as one of the biggest bands of this genre, this show was a complete breeze for New Found Glory.
After a brief intro, there are a lot of songs to cover, so they get through them pretty quickly. It’s fast, erratic, but a ton of fun. This is pop punk at its finest. 
The whole band moves up and down the stage, maintaining their energy as crowd surfers and mosh pits are plentiful. If you have seen the early New Found Glory music videos with them bopping about like children at a slumber party, then this is exactly what they provided tonight. No mess, no fuss, just good fun with attitude. 
Their overall sound is punchy and clear, an enjoyable event for all ages. Many songs are covered, such as Head On Collision, Let It Go, Dressed To Kill, and, of course, My Friends Over You. It was hard to count exactly how many songs they covered, but I would say almost or just over 20 which is a lot of bang for your buck.
With a set like this, I would say punk in any fashion is far from dead. This band brought a ton of life to an old venue like the 02 Academy Glasgow. It was good to see a lot of younger people here, too, showing how older bands can still influence the younger generation a lot. 
Even after a long set and some party cannons for show, it felt like everyone still had just as much energy at the beginning of the set. It goes to show how much dynamic energy New Found Glory brought with them that made us feel like kids again, where we could have partied all night. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end.
With New Found Glory, they showed tonight that age is just a number when it comes to punk or music in general. They were just as chaotic and enthusiastic 20 years ago, and at this rate, I doubt anything will change any time soon.
Koyo
Koyo are a somewhat newish band with 5 years of experience, but they have a lot to prove to show they can hold the future for pop punk today. The set they provided did not disappoint at all. 
A short half-hour set allowed them to give us a good taste of their fun but safe set, as they provide everything you would expect from a fun punk band without exploring too much in other territories. There are elements of emo and hardcore in their overall sound, which bring back many 2000s vibes. 
They perform a fun set that is filled with catchy hooks and memorable choruses. Before we know it, the set is already over and in preparation for the next support act.
Real Friends
Real Friends have a bit more experience in the genre, having formed back in 2010. They have a more established and polished sound.
The guitars and bass are funky yet dirty, which produced catchy rhythms that scream with anarchy. A high-energy performance that was not taken too seriously.
I was also really impressed with vocalist Cody, who did an excellent job interacting with the crowd. It was not long utill he was lunging himself into the pit and singing along with the crowd.
Cody commanded that pits were formed, which is something I expect at a Thrash Metal gig, but believe it or not, some great pits were formed.
The songs were mainly fast-paced and frantic until a brief pause halfway, where Cody had put himself right in the middle of the pit. He had asked everyone to get their phones out and flashlights on to create an intimate moment between band and fans for one of their calmer songs.
After it was not long until they kicked back into gear for some more fast and funky pop punk. Real Friends are a decent band to help hold the mantle for the main act, New Found Glory, who were to follow.
