Good Terms Live at House of Independents
by Holly Van Ness | June 15th, 2025
All images are from Good Term’s - US Tour in Asbury Park, NJ on 6/15/25.
It was Father’s Day. It was a Sunday night. And it was raining cats and dogs outside. And yet, none of that mattered to the packed crowd at House of Independents, any qualms about the weather or impending work day totally overpowered by the sheer energy of Good Terms. Since their release of Burnout in 2024, Good Terms has been steadily gaining momentum, and judging by the deafening singalongs and sweat-soaked mosh pits, it’s clear they’re so incredibly close to hitting the ground and running.
On June 15th, the band stopped at House of Independents in Asbury Park with their touring bill consisting of Youth Fountain and Sad Park. Two local acts opened the show, Wave Break and Spring Ahead Fall Apart, both with a similar softcore, pop-punk vibe.
Good Terms performed first of the touring bill and kicked off their set with a burst of adrenaline that sounded identical (if not better) to their recorded verses. Lead vocalist and guitarist Brian McShea was an absolute tornado of energy and at one point, sprinted around the entire venue during a perfect cover of Van Halen’s “Jump,” almost like he was making sure the entire room was paying attention to him.
Backed by Zach Boucher and Ivan Barry on guitars and vocals, Geo Botelho on bass, and Brendan McCusker’s ferocious drumming, Good Terms brought Burnoutto life in all its raw, unfiltered glory. Songs like “Old Friend” and “Cough” hit especially hard live and I love that the band primarily focused on their new album, proving that it’s something they’re especially proud of and want as many people as possible to hear.
Even the newest single “Progress” was met with praise and exhilaration from the crowd. Given the deeply personal backstory, inspired partly after Brian and his fiancée Stephanie lost their home in the California wildfires, the song struck a chord for me and fans alike.
There’s something unique about a Good Terms show: it doesn’t feel like a band playing to their fans; it feels like a band playing with them. As Brian, Zach, Ivan, Geo, and Brendan tore through the setlist, the crowd responded with wild abandon. Brian manages to capture the essence of frontman Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, all that excitement and energy and interactiveness (without the infidelity) and I’m extremely excited to see when he inevitably goes viral for climbing something he’s not supposed to during a set.
In my opinion, Good Terms has secured their place among the best of the genre so far. Whether you’re a diehard emo kid, a recovering scene kid, or a parent now raising one, they put out music with honesty, grit, and a hell of a lot of heart.
If you’ve been sleeping on Good Terms, consider this your wake-up call.
