From Screen to Stage: The Runarounds Own the Fonda
The Fonda Theatre didn’t need a warm-up on Friday night. Long before The Runarounds took the stage, the sold-out Los Angeles crowd had already filled the floor, buzzing with anticipation and packed shoulder to shoulder. It felt less like a casual tour stop and more like a moment fans had been counting down to, with conversations buzzing about favorite songs, past shows, and what might happen next.
Many in the room were first introduced to The Runarounds through their Amazon Prime series The Runarounds, but the live setting made it immediately clear the band has grown far beyond that origin story. At the Fonda, they played with the confidence of a group that knows exactly who they are and how to command a room. The set moved with purpose, staying tight and energetic while leaving plenty of space for the crowd to take ownership of the night.
From early on, the audience played an active role in shaping the show. Choruses were shouted back in unison, phones were raised but quickly lowered as fans chose to stay present, and the energy on the floor never dipped. Rather than creating distance between stage and audience, The Runarounds leaned into that closeness, allowing the crowd to carry moments alongside them instead of simply reacting from afar.
Midway through the set, the crossover between the band’s on-screen world and their live reality came full circle. Lilah Pate, who plays Sophia Kinney in the series, joined the band onstage for two songs. The reaction was immediate and loud, with cheers cutting through the room as fans recognized her. The moment didn’t feel staged or distracting. Instead, it landed as a natural extension of the story many fans have followed from the beginning, reinforcing the sense that the project has always been rooted in genuine connection.
As the night pushed toward its final stretch, The Runarounds took that connection even further. Near the end of the set, both singers jumped directly into the crowd, disappearing briefly into the packed floor as fans surrounded them. The move erased any remaining barrier between band and audience, turning the middle of the venue into part of the performance. Phones shot up, voices grew louder, and the moment quickly became one of the most talked-about highlights of the night.
After exiting the stage, the band returned for an encore that felt perfectly chosen for the room. Closing with a cover of Valerie, The Runarounds leaned into familiarity and shared experience, sending the entire venue out singing. By the final chorus, nearly everyone in the theater was participating, some with arms around friends, others hoarse but smiling, reluctant to let the night end.
The Los Angeles stop was a clear reflection of where the band stands right now. With their spring tour continuing to sell out across the country, the Fonda show didn’t feel like a breakthrough moment or a test run. It felt like a snapshot of a band fully in stride, comfortable onstage and deeply connected to the people showing up for them night after night.
By the time the lights came up, the energy in the room lingered. Fans shuffled out slowly, still buzzing, still talking, already replaying moments from the night. The Runarounds didn’t just play a show in Los Angeles — they turned the Fonda into a shared experience, one built on momentum, familiarity, and a crowd that was all in.
