Arm’s Length Make Strides On The “There’s A Whole World… Tour”
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 1: Arm’s Length headline Brooklyn Bowl. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Now eight years into the career, Arm’s Length return to Nashville for their seventh show in the city and their biggest to date bar none. Music City, USA holds a special place in the band’s career, landing as their third ever US show, a support slot to nothing, nowhere in 2021. Since then, the band’s returned opening for In Her Own Words, Origami Angel, and Heart Attack Man (twice), but it is their 2024 headline show at The End that is of note. The End is a 200-cap club on The Rock Block, a dingey little dive that has hosted numerous icons of music from The White Stripes, R.E.M., and Fugazi. It is a launch pad of sorts, earmarked as the starting point for countless careers as they pass through Nashville. Arm’s Length is no different, capitulating themselves straight into Brooklyn Bowl, a room six times the size of The End, just over two years later.
Off to the races early, the band kick off the night with “Funny Face,” the lead single from their new album, There’s a Whole World Out There. It’s a bold introduction, immediately launching into fast paced guitars riffs and sharp percussion. It is clear the band is not holding back, and neither are the fans. Frontman Allen Steinberg, while starting off rather mellow compared to his compatriots, is dynamic, switching from a soft, clear vocal into a jolting roar with ease. As if in sync, the crowd comes to life, Steinberg acting as a catalyst for the audience as he dives into the chorus. Multiple mosh pits have already formed in the opening moments.
Not eager to pull any punches, Arm’s Length shift right into “Object Permanence”—their biggest streaming song and a clear fan favorite. If the audience wasn’t already ravenous before, they certainly were now; within a moment a half dozen crowd surfers were launched into the air, guided by only those underneath of them. Drummer Jeff Whyte and bassist Benjamin Greenblatt hold it down, driving the song forward and controlling the momentum of the crowd. Sharp and punchy, Whyte knows how to let loose on a chorus and dial it back for the quieter moments. Juxtaposed, Greenblatt remains ever present, lying just below the surface of the mix like the rudder of a great ship. Despite this, the crowd quickly out runs the band, with security forced to empty the barricade to accommodate the chaos. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen this early in a show and it speaks volumes to the fan connection the band has built over the years.
Rounding out the first three with “You Ominously End,” the second single from There’s a Whole World Out There, it’s clear the band is continuing to roll down hill at speed. This is by far the fastest song of the opening bout, maintaining the high energy and refusing to let it fizzle. Guitarist Jeremy Whyte takes point here, with his riffs continuously adding fuel to the fire downstage. It is big, borderline arena-ready, arguably one of the most ‘radio friendly’ songs in the bands discography, yet it still feels uniquely ‘Arm’s Length.’ The fans certainly think so, and I’m inclined to side with them.
Setlist
Funny Face
Object Permanence
You Ominously End
In Loving Memory
Formative Age
The Weight
No Sleep
Early Onset
Palinopsia
Dirge
Fatal Flaw
Tough Love
Garamond
Halley
Morning Person
The World
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Overture
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 1: Arm’s Length headline Brooklyn Bowl. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Only about a third of the way through their North American tour, there is still plenty of time left to catch Arm’s Length. The band has a run through the Southeast and out West before a return trip to their home in Ontario, Canada. The band will then wrap up their summer with a handful of dates supporting Coheed and Cambria before a trio of Warped Tour dates.
You can find all of Arm’s Length’s upcoming tour dates here.
May 2 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre^*~
May 3 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues^*~
May 5 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall^*~
May 6 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin^*~
May 8 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom^*~
May 9 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues^*~
May 10 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues^*~
May 11 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades^*~
May 13 – Seattle, WA – Neptune^*~
May 14 – Boise, ID – The Shredder^*~
May 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot^*~
May 17 – Denver, CO – Summit^*~
May 19 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall^*~
May 21 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues^~
May 22 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall^*~
May 23 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues^*~
May 24 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall^*~
Jun 9 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre+
Jun 10 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater & Ballroom+
Jun 11 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo River Works+
Jun 13 – Worcester, MA – Palladium+
Jun 14 – Washington, DC – Vans Warped Tour 2026
Jul 11 – New Haven, CT – Shoreline Summer Festival 2026
Jul 25 – Long Beach, LA – Vans Warped Tour 2026
Nov 14 – Orlando, FL – Vans Warped Tour 2026
^ with The Callous Daoboys
* with Harrison Gordon
~ with Super Sometimes
+ supporting Coheed and Cambria
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 1: Arm’s Length headline Brooklyn Bowl. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Arm’s Length is one of the most fun, energetic bands I have seen in a long while. Between the high-energy, nonstop performance and the pure madness of the crowd, fans of punk, rock, and metal are certain to have a good time. Importantly too, it is clear the band has fostered a wonderful relationship with their fanbase, something that I feel has cultivated this live experience. While this show may not be for the meek or the weary, it certainly is a special experience.