2025 Bands of Summer 1 of 2

With the mercury amping up on the horizon, it's time for another edition of MusicBoxPete's annual Bands of Summer shirtless photo special. A tradition on the site since 2014, the special does its job of showcasing a different side of musicians that we never expected to see and makes us appreciate the musicians that much more. This year's crop of artists have a lot to offer the crowd and give them what they ask for, and leave them with a lasting impression that they won't soon forget. For this year's edition, we have Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line fame, a return appearance from Gabriel Goes of Backset, rising alt-rock sensation mehro, Boston based drumming phenom Ethan Church, plus a honorable mention and return appearance from the Northeastern Huskies club lacrosse team. And without further ado, here is this year's edition:

Kicking off this year's edition with a bang featuring Kenny Vasoli, frontman for pop-punk pioneers The Starting Line. The guys have been the soundtrack for many high school era teens growing up in the early 2000's (myself included), and have earned the group a special place as one of the more under appreciated bands in the pop-punk scene and an original member of the Drive Thru Records label. The band have played shows in a variety of different temperature settings, and at the So What festival down in Dallas, TX back in 2023, Kenny gave fans quite a thrill as he ditched the shirt as the band played their landmark tune "Best of Me" to close out their set. A real treat for the eyes, it shows Kenny relishing in the attention and cheers from the crowd amidst the brutal heat.

Coming back for a return appearance is Gabriel Goes, frontman for the Hawaii based rising rock outfit Backset. You may remember Gabriel from his appearance on NBC's "The Voice" a few years back, and since then he's focused on his band full time, playing gigs near and far and showcasing his fun, laid-back persona that comes through strongly in his music. One thing that's a constant at all his shows is his performing shirtless as you can see from the pic above at one of his most recent shows. With his ripped physique, he is more than willing to show off his bod to the adoring crowd, setting the mood and reciprocating the love that they're showing him and making the show that much more memorable to those in attendance.

Making his debut on the list is rising alt-rock sensation mehro. He has a mysterious aura with the model good looks and deep, introspective songwriting that has made him a hot commodity in the music scene. One thing that he always emphasizes in his performances is audience involvement, and one of the ways to get fans going is grabbing their attention which he does perfectly as he whips the shirt off occassionally as you can see from the pic above. An incredibly charismatic and good looking guy, he has the necessary tools and music wisdom to make it very far in this business and leave fans with something to look back fondly on and always coming back for more.

A new arrival on the list is Ellis Casson, bassist for rising UK rock outfit The Achilles. The band started out a few years ago, and they've slowly been building up some momentum with their gigs at small venues in and around the Brighton, UK area. Their sound is a mixture of brit-pop in the vein of Oasis and Arctic Monkeys with their own unique twist and spin. Their live sets are raucous and are what you come to expect with some debauchery and mischief occassionally happening at their shows. One thing you'll always see is Ellis slapping the bass with his top off, much to the delight of those in attendance. A charming lad for sure, he adds a great deal of groove and allure for a band that is slowly starting to find its way and may be making its way across the pond soon.

Also making his debut on the list is Boston based drumming phenom Ethan Church. Ethan is a touring and stage drummer for various alt-metal acts, showing his phenomenal and ridiculous skills within the genre and his youthful charm and charisma that have made him a star attraction. One thing that stands out about him is his free wheeling style that is best exhibited when he has his shirt off. Showing off his various tattoos and well, you can tell how much fun he has on stage and how adored he is by the crowd who have come to appreciate his individual musical contribution to the band also.

A revealing entry from Seattle based rock outfit Meldrop. The guys have a dreamy beach-pop sound to their music that evokes melodic soundscapes and a feeling of escaping from the ordinary doldrums of your everyday life. One thing the band also adds is some excitement ot the mix, and the guys did certainly just that with the cover art for their single "Nude Walter Beach" that came out last September that saw the guys strip down nude, with only a surfboard covering up their unmentionables. The guys are geniuses when it comes to marketing themselves, and this will certainly gain the band even more fans in the process who will come to appreciate their individual musical talents in addition.

Making his way onto the list is jazz focused, multi-instrumentalist master Shota Renwick. Originally hailing from Brooklyn, Shota spent some time in Boston playing saxophone in various acts, showing his impeccable style and sophistication that he gained from going to school locally at the New England Conservatory. He also plays a mean saxophone, and likes to get comfortable which saw Shota taking off his shirt durng a recording session several months ago. It's certainly a sight to behold to see Shota in his element doing something that makes him happy, and this will definitely keep him on the radar of many music fans.

Rounding out the list with our annual honorable mention is the Northeastern Huskies men's club lacrosse team. The fellas have been gaining in stature and success over the last couple of years, advancing to the playoffs every year and gaining further experience that has led the team to achieving unthinkable goals and unlocking priceless memories in the process as well. One tradition they've done especially well is celebrating together as a group after qualifying for the postseason, while tossing aside the shirts and relishing in the moment together. It's a definite team bonding moment, and one that they won't soon forget as this pic shows how much fun and joy they get from playing together.