By Gabby Redding | August 3, 2023
📸: shot by Jill Boyatsis
Finish Ticket was formed around 15 years ago when twin brothers Brendan (vocals) and Michael Hoye (guitar) joined forces with Alex DiDonato (guitar) through a shared love of iconic indie bands such as The Killers and The Strokes. The band was quickly completed with the addition of Gabe Stein (drums) and Nick Stein (keyboards). The Bay Area band’s sound has evolved over time, taking inspiration from their various influences and blending it into a distinctive sound that’s reminiscent of Young the Giant and other classic indie-pop bands.
Following their inception, Finish Ticket rapidly gained a devoted following in San Francisco and continued to achieve broader recognition as they graced the stages as opening acts for esteemed bands such as Twenty One Pilots, Fitz and the Tantrums, AWOLNATION, The Black Keys, Panic! At the Disco, Walk the Moon, and Ed Sheeran.
They released their debut album, Tears You Apart, in 2014 after inking a deal with Elektra Records. Despite parting ways with the label in 2018, and members Michael and Nick stepping back from the band, Finish Ticket has remained resilient, demonstrating their unwavering endurance through the release of several powerful singles. Their latest gem, “Timebomb,” may be one of their strongest songs yet.
We caught their show on July 30th when they opened for Arrows in Action at Gramercy Theatre. The set was short but effective. They played crowd pleaser, “Colors,” as well a new song that’s set to release soon. The crowd joyfully sang along before the second act, Honey Revenge, took the stage. With their upcoming new music, both ardent followers and new fans of Finish Ticket have plenty to look forward to–if their latest New York performance is any indication, their sound just keeps evolving.
Connect with Finish Ticket on Instagram, Spotify, TikTok and their website.
