10.29.25 - The Violent Dream Tour: Johnnie Guilbert and Chandler Leighton at Mercury Lounge in New York City Review

Last Wednesday, on October 29, 2025, at my favorite NYC venue, Mercury Lounge, the Violent Dream Tour brought us all back to the Tumblr days. If you were around in 2014, you know Johnnie Guilbert, maybe not by name, but you know him. Johnnie was THEE Tumblr boy. When you think of "e-boy", you picture Johnnie. Since then, he has developed a platform across all socials, from Tumblr boy to Youtube icon, and now music frontman. Johnnie delivered emotional sets built for the small room intimacy of the best NYC venue on his first sold out headline tour.

Opening the night was my girl, Chandler Leighton. You may know her from her stint on American Idol in 2016, or more notably her killer performances at the recent Warped Tours DC and LA (Orlando Warped coming in 2 weeks!). Chandler was backed by Sage Weeber (drummer) and Aubrey Harris (bass) in a sold out crowd of 200 people. This was my first time seeing her since her headline tour August 2024, ironically also at the same venue. With a different set than night one, dressed in a catsuit for Halloween, she wowed the crowd with her pop/rock tracks and emotional cover. Her voice was powerful and controlled. Mid-way through the set, she stripped things back and sat down in the crowd for a cover of "How To Save A Life" by the Fray, showcasing her range and vulnerability before diving back into a heavier full band finale. It was a rare sight to see such a packed crowd for an opener, especially at this venue.

After a short intermission, when the lights dimmed and Johnnie Guilbert hit the stage, the room erupted in screams. Dressed in black and white with dark eyeshadow and eyeliner, he immediately transformed the energy turning Mercury into a safe haven for his fans. From the opening track, Guilbert's blend of pop-punk angst and alt-rock took full control. Starting with the crowd screaming every lyric and jumping around, halfway through Johnnie also slowed things down. He did a cover of "Creep" by Radiohead. Johnnie also performed a fully unplugged acoustic song of one of his first released singles for his OG fans to close out the night. Having never seen him before and not even realizing he made music as I was there for his opener, the production and emotional delivery hit hard in the venue, leaving me as a fan.

What stood out most wasn't just the talent, it was the connection and community built between the artists and their fans. Both artists leaned into the intimacy of Mercury Lounge, turning the show into a two way exchange of interaction, rather than just a performance from a pedestal. From Chandler meeting everyone at the merch booth to Johnnie recording on fan's phones on stage and even gifting free merch to best dressed costumes, you could tell they both really care about their people. Fans cried, screamed, and sang back every word. The merch line was packed post-show, the kind of atmosphere and scene where people are lingering just to stay in the moment a little longer.

The Violent Dream Tour New York stop was the first city of the tour (while I attended night two). It was more than just a show. It was a shared experience for fans to remember and cherish forever. Chandler Leighton and Johnnie Guilbert brought two sides of the same emotional coin: heartbreak + healing and reflection + rebellion. This was a night that proved both artists are carving out their own lanes in alt/pop and connecting with fans who feel every note.

Written by Jackie Spitz

To check out our photos from the show (Johnnie coming soon):