2026 Bands of Summer Part 1

The mercury is rising and the beads of sweat are forming, and the only thing that means around here is the return of MusicBoxPete's annual Bands of Summer shirtless photo special. A yearly fixture on the site, this year's special is loaded with photos galore of shirtless musicians more than willing to show off their bodies to an adoring crowd, and provides a way for artists to show a different side of their personality to their audience. It also gives fans a new appreciation for the artist and gives them a bigger following in the process. This year's crop of artists include up and coming Banana Ball country singer Jayson Arendt, Jonah Wakefield from the emerging local indie band Milk Street, rising Canadian indie group Sea Of Lettuce, an entry from alternative singer-songwriter mehro, plus a honorable mention from the Northeastern Huskies men's club lacrosse team. And without further ado, here is this year's lineup:

Starting things out with an entry courtesy of Axel Ellis from the bands The Runarounds and Ax & The Hatchetmen. You may be familiar with Axel already from the Amazon Prime TV series "The Runarounds" and the same named band, along with his time in Ax & The Hatchetmen. The band has developed quite a following from the show and their live tour making its way across the nation, entertaining and enthralling fans with their frenetic live sets, and charismatic appeal of all the band members. Axel is the quinessential charmer, with his radiating aura and swooning good looks that are best exemplified in this behind the scenes photo of Axel getting ready before a show sans shirt. Axel knows how to communicate with fans both on and off stage, and this pic certainly does the trick.

Things are heating up with an entry from Cody Muraro, lead vocalist for the pop-punk group Real Friends. This band is well known within the community as a band who deliver the goods in concert each and every time, with deep, punctuating rhythms and a strong vocal charge that make the group such a worthwhile listen in concert. They're also a band who never take themselves too seriously and know how to have fun, best exemplified by this pic of Cody above wearing nothing but a guitar covering up his goods. He's clearly in on the joke, and loves giving the fans something to laugh and marvel over at the same time.

A steamy entry coming in from Banana Ball player turned country singer Jayson Arendt. Currently playing for the Texas Tailgaters, you may also remember Jayson from his brief stint on American Idol where he wowed judges and audience members alike with his Southern hospitality and charm along with his impeccable voice. Jayson has a certain charm and magic where he knows what draws audience members in, and he certainly displays it well on this pic from a recent post game concert where he took off his shirt much to the delight to the crowd of spectators. His charisma and talent are completely off the charts, and he is bound to get loads more fans thanks to this pic and new music coming out soon.

Up next is an entry from Jonah Wakefield, frontman for the Maine based indie rock outfit Milk Street. The band have been featured numerous times before on the site, and I also had the opportunity to interview Jonah for my podcast a few years back. They're a fun, delightful act with a musical style that is off the wall with a smorgasboard of different influences that is hard to pin down genrewise. They also have a hypnotic live set where antyhing goes, and sometimes involves Jonah performing shirtless as you can see from above. A sweat fueled affair that always results in enjoyment and entertainment by all.

Another magnificent entry coming from LA based indie singer-songwriter mehro. mehro dazzled listeners and audiences last year with both his music and his entry in the special that was downright hypnotic in the sense that someone so beautiful and talented had that effect on people that was so apparent to everyone around. He wows everyone again thanks to this dazzling photo of him performing in concert earlier this year that puts you in a trance right away. mehro is beyond beautiful and is wise and talented beyond his years, and this photo is one that deserves to be framed for its perfect personification of sheer beauty.

A new entry from Percy Crews, drummer for the Atlanta, GA based pop-punk outfit The Paradox. This band has been gaining some steam as of late with their #1 charting Alternative Airplay hit "Get The Message" that is bringing the old school joy and excitement from early 00's pop-punk back alive and well. The fellas have each been getting individual acclaim for their talents along with their youthful appeal and charm, along with the talents of Percy who can usually been seen sans shirt quite frequently on stage and as you see from the pic above. This is just the beginning for the group, and it's only a matter of time before everyone around knows their name.

A brand new entry coming in from our neighbors to the north in Calgary, Alberta Canada called Sea Of Lettuce. They're a four piece indie band that have pleasant, inviting melodies intersparsed throughout their music that make them such an enjoyable listen, and a thrilling sight to behold while checking them out in concert. One tradition that has become their hallmark and calling card is when they all take their shirts off midway through the concert, as you can see from this screenshot at one of their recent shows a couple of months ago. The guys thoroughly enjoy giving the crowd what they want and being the center of attention so much.

Rounding things out with our annual entry from the Northeastern Huskies men's club lacrosse team. The guys have gotten incrementally better each and every year, qualifiying for the postseason each and every time and becoming more skilled and have bonded together as teammates along the way. One tradition that they spearheaded was a group shirtless pic that they started 3 years back celebrating them qualifying for the postseason, and they've continued that tradition this year with the most recent pic showing off for their adoring fans. The guys clearly enjoy the attention that has come their way, and is only the beginning for these gents.