Boys Like Girls in Rochester

About Boys Like Girls

Boys Like Girls formed in Boston in 2005 and became one of the defining pop-rock bands of the late 2000s. Built around Martin Johnson's vocals and the band's knack for crafting hook-laden songs, they carved out space between emo sincerity and pop radio accessibility. Their 2006 debut album spawned "The Great Escape," a track that defined a moment when relatably awkward romance could soundtrack your entire high school experience. "Two Is Better Than One" featuring Taylor Swift proved they could do earnest duets without irony. Even as taste shifted, they remained good at what they did: writing songs about wanting someone, losing someone, or pretending not to care. They've never stopped touring or releasing music, proving there's a persistent audience for this particular brand of careful vulnerability wrapped in power chords.

Their crowds are engaged without being frantic. People sing every word to the familiar stuff. There's genuine affection in the room rather than nostalgia-drunk irony. They're reliable musicians who play tight, don't oversell the drama, and seem aware they're working in a legacy.

Known for The Great Escape, Thunder, Two Is Better Than One, Love Drunk, Be Your Everything

Boys Like Girls + Rochester

Boys Like Girls last touched down in Rochester back in 2009 at Frontier Field, right when their self-titled debut was still fresh. That was over a decade ago, which feels like forever in pop-rock time. If they're coming back, it'd be their first proper return to the area in years.

Boys Like Girls in Rochester News

• Classic rock band offers to play wedding for celebrity couple: ‘We know what love is’ Syracuse.com · Sep 5, 2025
• Jonas Brothers Add Three New York Dates to 2025 Tour NYS Music · Jun 18, 2025
• Metro Detroit 2025 concert guide Detroit Metro Times · May 14, 2025
• Tour news: Anthony Jeselnik, John Mellencamp, Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Mariah Carey, Steve Earle, Mt Joy, more BrooklynVegan · Oct 30, 2023
• HIP-HOP/ROCK | 98 PXY Jingle Jam 2012 roccitymag.com · Dec 12, 2012

Live Music in Rochester

Rochester's got a solid indie and alternative rock backbone, but pop-punk has always been a bit of a secondary current here compared to some other upstate markets. Boys Like Girls sits somewhere between power-pop accessibility and the kind of earnest melodrama that college radio used to champion—the city's always appreciated that blend even if it wasn't the dominant sound.

Rochester road trip to see Boys Like Girls?

Stay in the Park Avenue neighborhood, where the tree-lined streets and historic homes create a genteel atmosphere without feeling stuffy. Dinner at Citrine, where the wine program is thoughtful and the kitchen respects its ingredients, sets the right tone. Before or after the show, spend an afternoon at the George Eastman Museum—the photography collection is world-class, and the house itself is a masterclass in early-20th-century design. It's the kind of place that makes you think differently about composition and light, which isn't a bad headspace before hearing Bilmuri's intricate arrangements.