Shot by: @tullo.photo

For a band embarking on their first-ever headlining tour, The Haunt carried themselves with the confidence and polish of a group far beyond that milestone. The Florida-born rock duo—siblings Anastasia Haunt (lead vocals) and Maxamillion Haunt (vocals and guitar)—are currently celebrating the release of their debut full-length album, New Addiction, released this past July. The tour marks a major step forward for a band that has steadily built its catalog since first releasing singles in 2017 and four EPs since 2018, following their rebrand from Anastasia Haunt to The Haunt.

Sonically, The Haunt have cultivated a fairly consistent sound throughout their catalog—one that feels comfortably familiar while still sounding sharp and modern. Their music draws clear influence from the punchy grit of Green Day and the emotional urgency of early Paramore, while layering in an electric edge and a nostalgic undertone that makes their songs feel both current and timeless. That balance translated effortlessly from studio recordings to the live setting.

The duo took the stage to the ominous intro of “Bad Omen,” one of their two songs to chart on the US Main charts, peaking at No. 24. Anastasia emerged first, immediately commanding attention in her signature pale foundation and black lipstick, clutching the band’s stuffed bunny mascot, Pebbles, adorably dressed in a Santa costume. From the opening moments, the energy was undeniable. Anastasia spent nearly the entire song standing atop a box, looming over the crowd and establishing herself as a frontwoman impossible to ignore.

As “Bad Omen” came to a close, Maxamillion hyped the room with a shout of, “Phoenix, are you ready to fucking party?” before the band launched straight into “Morally Incompetent.” Featuring the biting lines, “I throw parties for the hell of it / But I’m afraid no one there really gives a shit / It’s a party for the morally incompetent,” the song landed with ironic perfection—because this crowd was fully locked in.

Much of that connection can be credited to Anastasia’s commanding stage presence, which throughout the night felt like a collision of two seemingly opposite forces: the explosive, crowd-leading charisma of Hayley Williams and the dark, deadpan cool of Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams. Like Williams, Anastasia thrives on constant motion—jumping, spinning, headbanging, climbing—never sacrificing vocal control in the process. At the same time, she carries a gothic, almost mischievous intensity reminiscent of Wednesday, punctuated by piercing stares into the crowd and an unshakeable sense of self-possession. It’s a rare combination that feels both emotionally raw and visually striking. If you missed out on tickets to Hayley Williams’ sold-out headlining tour, catching The Haunt live is an easy recommendation—and one fans will soon be able to act on, as the band has just announced they’ll be joining The Hollow Crown Tour in Spring 2026, opening for ThxSoMch, WesGhost, and MISSIO.

The night’s setlist leaned heavily on New Addiction, as expected, while still making room for earlier singles and standout tracks from the band’s EPs. A cover of Royal Blood’s “Hook, Line & Sinker” proved to be a standout moment, with Anastasia’s vocals perfectly complementing the song’s grit and swagger. Overall, the song selection was incredibly strong, ensuring that casual fans unfamiliar with the band’s deeper catalog were still treated to all of their most recognizable songs.

What made the performance especially impressive was how closely the band’s live sound matched their studio recordings. Anastasia held long notes with ease, maintaining powerful, controlled vocals despite the near-constant movement on stage. For a first headlining tour, The Haunt’s production and presence felt remarkably developed, aided by thoughtful lighting design and an energy that proved infectious throughout the room.

Even when technical issues arose, the band handled them with ease. Just a few songs into the set, Maxamillion’s pedal board malfunctioned, but rather than killing the momentum, the moment became a highlight. The drummer launched into a solo before the bassist joined in, breaking into Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” as the crowd eagerly sang along until the issue was resolved.

Midway through the set, the band slowed things down for “OK,” prompting the audience to raise their phone flashlights. Though the song begins softly, it builds into an emotionally devastating bridge where the lyric “Tried losing some weight / Anything to make you stay / If I lose another pound, I’ll be six feet underground / You’ll cry on my grave” becomes impossible not to scream along to. It’s a line that resonates deeply—particularly with girls and women in the crowd—and one that lingered long after the show ended.

The night closed with an encore featuring “Masochistic Lovers,” the band’s second charting single and consistently their most-played song year after year. Ending the set on such a high felt fitting, cementing the show as a celebration not only of New Addiction, but of how far The Haunt have come.