Coheadlining Conclusion: Heart Attack Man and Phoneboy in Columbus
BY ANNA PORCELLATwenty-eight stops spanning twenty states in six weeks, the coheadlining tour by Heart Attack Man and Phoneboy came to a close this past Saturday in Columbus at Newport Music Hall. With sunny spring weather and Ohio State University graduates lingering in the city, the atmosphere outside the venue already felt celebratory.
Inside Newport, the crowd showed up in colorful party hats, past tour merch, and beaded bracelets printed with song titles. With Pony and Slowjoy opening the night, the lineup offered subtle genre shifts throughout, while still holding a consistent energy. Across indie rock, pop punk, grunge, emo, and pop rock, each band stretched genre boundaries into a cohesive, high-energy show.
The first headliner, Heart Attack Man, is a three-piece consisting of Eric Egan (vocals and guitar), Ty Sickels (guitar), and Adam Paduch (drums), joined by touring member Gabe Pietrafesa. Known for their gritty, high-energy pop punk sound, the band often pairs humor with existential lyricism.
Following the release of their 2025 album Joy Ride the Pale Horse, the Cleveland-based group has spent much of the year on the road. Returning close to home, they made a point of acknowledging the moment.
“Columbus,” said Sickels, “you only have one song left to take over Cincinnati as the second-best city in Ohio.”
Their closing track, “Freak of Nature,” ignited the room, sending crowdsurfers into the air as members of the entire lineup rushed the stage, tossing streamers into the crowd.
The night closed with Phoneboy, a four-piece from New Jersey featuring Wyn Barnum (vocals and guitar), Ricky Dana (vocals and guitar), James Fusco (bass), and Jordan Torres (vocals and keyboard), along with touring member Tyler Stackhouse (drums). Their indie rock style leans into a casual, conversational energy that translates directly to their crowd interaction.
A fan-led moment brought roses onto the stage during “Roses,” while another fan joined the band to perform guitar on “Something on My Mind.” Barnum noted it was one of the most difficult songs in their set, making the guest performance a standout moment.
Heart Attack Man’s Eric Egan also returned to the stage, encouraging the crowd to split for a wall-of-death.
“I like these party hats,” said Dana. “Is there an occasion or is this just your swag?”
The occasion: his birthday the following day. The bands brought out a cake toward the end of the set, adding to the night’s celebratory tone.
Throughout the evening, moments between band and audience blurred into shared celebration. As each set peaked, the energy only continued to rise.
Whether drawn to pop punk or indie rock, the unlikely coheadlining pairing proved to be a fitting match—delivering a show that resonated across genres and kept the momentum going until the final note.
