Photos + Review: The Paradox & The Academy Is @ Concord Music Hall (Chicago, Il)

The Paradox (Atlanta, GA), The Academy Is… (Chicago, IL)
September 20th, 2025
Concord Music Hall in Chicago, Illinois

Good music is good music these days.

There’s so much of it and there’s so much in our lives vying for our attention, if I hear a good song, I’m going to like it without bothering with the extra outside stuff that might be surrounding it. (Of course there are some exceptions with some…problematic bands.)

The Paradox are a new pop punk band from Atlanta that I only recently heard of, and even more recently got the chance to witness live. Only a little more than a year old of a band, this four piece quickly found attention, if not fame, going viral and amassing an impressively large online following.

I got to catch the band opening for The Academy Is at their Riot Fest late night after party show. The whole day was a bit of a whirlwind, but as soon as the band started playing, I was having fun. This is the pop punk I grew up with and loved in the early 00’s. The Paradox reminds me of early Sum 41, Simple Plan, and Avril Lavigne. An emphasis on catchiness and melody, but also utilizing nice guitar riffs.

To be perfectly honest, I can’t say that the performance this night was 100% perfect, but it didn’t have to be, and it was actually pretty refreshing to see as raw of a set. You have to remind yourself that these guys are all young, and they’re still a baby as far as how old the band is. Cut them some slack. There’ve been plenty of bands in the past that had an emphasis on energy and fun rather than technical ability. I’m thinking like early Green Day and Blink 182. Pop punk has always been about singing about your feelings, in a relatable, heavy, and well, raw way. I was actually really impressed by their Taking Back Sunday cover of “Cute without the E,” though, and that was a highlight of my night.

After having taken a couple of trip out to Atlanta, I have a fond appreciation for the city and what it has to offer, so I’m happy that there’s this new pop punk band coming out representing the area. They’ve just released their first EP NSFW, and I’m already excited for more stuff from them, whatever it entails. Hoping they make their way up to Minneapolis soon as well!