Taylor Acorn has quickly become one of the compelling voices to emerge from the pop-punk revival, and her performance at the Echoplex on Friday night proved exactly why.
When the first kick of the drum shook through the venue, the energy shifted – and by the time Acorn stepped up to the mic, she had already ignited the crowd and set the energy for the night.
Acorn’s onstage presence was electric, and her sound was distinctive. It’s reminiscent of early-2000s influences like Paramore, Avril Lavigne and Mayday Parade, while also carrying an underlying country influence.
One of the night’s most impressive elements was Acorn’s ability to maintain vocal clarity and strength while delivering an intensely physical performance. She jumped, danced and ran across the stage without sacrificing tone or control.
It was the kind of performance that makes you realize how much training, discipline and care she puts into her voice.
Acorn is fresh off signing her first record deal after being an independent artist for nine years. But, her career came with many challenges. At one point, she considered quitting music altogether.
Her song “Suckerpunch” is dedicated to her journey through the music industry and learning how to find herself and stick to music when everything was telling her to give up.
Acorn’s music holds a lot of depth. Each song is about one of her life experiences. A stand out was “Home Videos,” a song dedicated to her father who had passed away in 2001.
She performed it solo, accompanying herself on an acoustic guitar. This made it feel intimate and personal, like an invitation to connect with her and her story.
Midway through the show, Acorn brought out fellow musician and friend Charlotte Sands to perform their duet “Final Nail.” Their voices paired well together and sent a wave of excitement through the crowd.
That energy carried into the rest of the set, powered by a fanbase that proved to be a force of its own. Fans screamed every lyric, creating the kind of tight-knit community pop-punk has always championed. When she leaned into the mic, the crowd leaned with her.
It’s clear Acorn deeply values that connection. Throughout the night, she interacted with fans, even pausing mid-set to sign a poster for a young girl who looked up to her.
By the time she reached the closing stretch of her show, Acorn felt less like a “new face” in pop-punk and more like an artist who is fully stepping into her moment.
As the pop-punk resurgence continues, Acorn stands out as an artist who is helping to redefine it. She’s carving space for women at the front of the genre and she’s doing it with a voice filled with power.
If last night proved anything, it’s that everyone in the room was glad she didn’t quit music. Taylor Acorn is exactly what pop-punk needs right now.
