Dayseeker: The Pale Moonlight Tour 2026
Buffalo RiverWorks is one of Buffalo’s biggest live music venues. A popular stop for bands hitting some pretty big tours, Dayseeker was no exception to this. The Pale Moonlight Tour brought a lineup of opening acts such as Northlane, Wind Walkers, and Sace6. A pretty stacked lineup for an already very anticipated tour. It’s very clear throughout the past couple of years that Buffalo loves Dayseeker. Selling out the last couple of stops here, Tuesday night at Riverworks was no exception. With a sold-out crowd filling the venue’s 5,000-6,000-person capacity, the atmosphere of fans brought the venue to life. Riverworks is known for its industrial Buffalo-style, restored silos, and warehouse-style layout. With a huge first-floor layout and an upstairs viewing area, fans had plenty of options to find the best view. With the album Creature In the Black Night still fresh from its 2025 release, Dayseeker was anticipated to come ready with a setlist full of fan favorites. Half an hour before the doors opened, fans were already lined up down the street, anxious to get in and claim a spot.
Sace6 kicked off the night with a surprisingly strong set and crowd response. The general admission floor was packed with people before the first song even hit your ears. Being new to this band, my attention was immediately drawn to the stage. The duo, formed in 2004, blends clean sounds of pop, R&B, and metal. Crushing breakdowns and a blend of electronic textures had the floor moving instantly. The lighting featured an almost dark and moody energy, with warm yellow/orange tones. Throughout the set, Sace6 brought a cool, low-toned melodic vibe which quickly amped up into a more whimsical display of chaotic chaos. Microphone swings, guitar jumps, and dream-like vocals were fully present that night and most certainly got the crowd moving. At one point, fans had their cellphone lights up, swaying back and forth as the venue lit up with strong emotional intensity. With their debut album, Brutalist, releasing on May 8th, 2026, the 11-track project gives fans a blend of beautifully crafted songs.
Wind Walkers exploded onto the stage next. Not wasting a minute was lead singer Trevor Borg, pacing back and forth, demanding the crowd’s attention. The band’s melodic hooks instantly connected with the Buffalo crowd, pumping energy into the air. The post-hardcore grit of the band’s sound, along with high-energy and versatile genre-blending, makes it easy to see why they are a fan favorite. Fans wasted no time shouting lyrics alongside the band and matching their energy. A lot of the band’s songs focus on focusing on mental health and other deeply personal aspects of life. Truly, the type of music relating to all ages shows why live music can be so important. With heavy metalcore breakdowns and electronic elements, you can see why fans have such an intense connection to the lyrics. The crowd responded heavily to the heavy, visceral screams and smooth vocals of songs off their newest album, What If I Break?, and other favorites. Wind Walkers proves again why you should never miss the openers.
Australian metalcore veterans Northlane took the stage next. Having seen Northlane before, I knew that their set was going to be an amazing addition to this already loaded lineup. Even the fans who came primarily for Dayseeker weren’t safe from the energy of this band. Marus Bridge packed some vocal heat, switching between soaring vocals and guttural screams. The venue was filled with cybernetic sound that perfectly blended with captivating visuals and strobes. A Northlane show is almost that of a rave-like experience. Their cyberpunk style truly makes them unique and stands out. Guitarist Jonathon Deiley sported haunting red glasses that glowed and made for a visually cool pairing to the band’s set. Josh Smith wasn’t shy, exploding into multiple mid-air jumps throughout the set and getting fans moving. If the crowd wasn’t warmed up already, they were now. The live performance of this band is truly unmatched, and it’s clear to see why. With circle pits forming and crowd surfers starting to make their way towards the barricade, Northlane was giving a co-headliner type of performance. “Carbonized,” “Talking Heads,” and “Clockwork” were among the fan favorites that were played. Bridge interacted heavily with the crowd, encouraging them to sing along to the lyrics as fans pushed closer. Northlane fans made their presence known, and by the end of the set, you could barely move.
Headliners Dayseeker were finally up next, and this crowd was ready. My favorite part of a Dayseeker show, besides the absolute electric energy, is their stage setup. Dayseeker always has the most beautifully visual and darkly intimate setup, and tonight was no different. Florals were scattered among the stage alongside a coffin centered in the middle. A large LED screen flashed lyrics from the song “Dance with the Devil, slave till the end.” Blue and purple lights gave just the right touch without being too much, and the dream-like stage of the setup was absolutely stunning to witness. Emerging from the thick fog on stage, Rory Rodriguez effortlessly drew the crowd’s attention. The setlist was balanced with songs new and old that kept fans’ attention throughout the entire night. Most of the songs throughout the night spun off their album Creature in the Black Night, released in 2025. “Bloodlust”, “ Shapeshift,” and my personal favorite, “ Crawl Back to My Coffin,” drew the loudest reaction from the crowd. With “ Creature in the Black Night”, “ Homesick”, and a cover of “The Ghost of You” by My Chemical Romance also making the cut. Crowd surfers poured effortlessly across the GA pit towards the stage, and the emotion of fans at the barricade showed just how much they related to the band’s lyrics. Rory’s crowd interaction with fans was unforgettable, stopping the show at one point to thank the crowd for their support and show the band’s overall appreciation to their fans. After some heart-to-heart conversation, the band exploded back into the next song. Rory’s raw vulnerability and charismatic energy can be heard in each song. His voice is truly unique, and the transition of clean soft vocals to heavier screams is nothing short of impressive. The blend of haunting vocals pairs perfectly with the band’s violent breakdowns and heavier cuts, and energy didn’t stop the entire night.
As the lights came back on, the crowd still buzzed with excitement as fans made their way to the crowded parking lot. People gathered in the back of the venue to pick up some last-minute merch, and fans throughout the venue enthusiastically showed off caught guitar picks and setlists. The crowd was buzzing with talk about how awesome the show was and recapping their favorite moments. If you want to check out Dayseeker on The Pale Moonlight Tour, make sure to grab your tickets now. With venues selling out, you don’t want to miss this show!
Dayseeker Setlist:
Pale Moonlight
Shapeshift
Dreamstate
Burial Plot
Crawl Back to My Coffin
Homesick
The Ghost of You ( MCR cover)
Forgotten Ghost
Bloodlust
Without Me
Crying While You’re Dancing
Nocturnal Remedy
The Living Dead
Creature in the Black Night
Sleeptalk
Neon Grave (ENCORE)