On the first snowy night in Buffalo, NY, Taylor Acorn and opener Wilt were ready to melt the cold away with a punchy pop punk burst of energy. I drove into the beautiful city of Buffalo and made my way to Rec Room, one of the area’s staple venues.
Inside, the room carried the charm of a nostalgic throwback. Booths lined the sides for friends to settle in and enjoy the show, while others pressed tightly against the stage, eager for the night to begin. I grabbed a Coke, my concert staple, and soaked in the atmosphere. A quick trip upstairs for a few arcade games and a look through the merch added to the pre show anticipation before I headed back down as the opener stepped onstage.
Wilt launched into their set with a magnetic presence that immediately lit up the room. Their energy had a touch of No Doubt to it, maybe because of the pink haired lead vocalist or her naturally charismatic stage performance. Several locals were already loyal fans, singing every word to “The Riff” and “Bite My Tongue,” but by the end of their set it felt as though the entire room had been won over. Their sound was fresh, confident, and impossible not to enjoy. 
As anticipation built, Taylor’s band prepared their instruments and the buzz within the crowd grew thicker. When Taylor stepped onstage, fully ready to deliver, the intimate venue instantly transformed into something that felt like an arena. Her sound and presence held hints of Avril Lavigne and P!nk, yet she carried a hometown girl identity that made her entirely her own. She opened the night with her new hit “Poster Child,” setting the tone with confidence and fire. Somewhere in the middle of it all, she reminded me why I became an emo kid twenty years ago, pulling forward that spunky and broken hearted thirteen year old version of myself that still lives somewhere inside.
She continued the night by slowing things down for a few songs with just her acoustic guitar, creating a warm, emotional shift that led the crowd into a smooth, collective melody. Fans swayed, sang along, and soaked in every moment. When the energy ramped back up, she carried the room straight into an unforgettable finale. She closed with “Psycho,” an encore that let everyone unleash their wild side one last time.
You can bet I blasted her album on my snowy drive back to Syracuse, quite possibly losing my voice from singing along. It felt like the perfect soundtrack to close out a night that stirred up nostalgia and excitement in equal measure.
Fresh off her performance at When We Were Young, Taylor is proving more and more that she is one to watch. She is continuing her tour across the United States and gearing up to bring her bold, spirited style to Warped Tour. Her debut album Poster Child is out now on Spotify and she will be on the road through December. Catch her while you can and let her show you exactly why she is rising fast.
Amanda Miller | Photographer and Reviewer for Good News York
