Indie-pop artist KAYKO brought his Manic Pixie Dream Girl tour to Buffalo this past Saturday, September 27, taking over Nietzsche’s with a high-energy set. The tour, which follows the August 2025 release of his concept album of the same name, featured a mix of new songs, older favorites, and a few unexpected covers that provided something for everybody in the crowd to dance, cry, or sing along to.
Before the main show began, VIP ticket holders were treated to an intimate pre-show experience hosted by KAYKO himself. The VIP session included an open Q&A, a set of songs not featured on the standard setlist, and a photo op with a fun twist – a game of KAYKO Says. This creative take on Simon Says not only helped organize the photo line, but also rewarded one lucky winner with a free month of gold-level membership to KAYKO’s Patreon.
During the Q&A, KAYKO spoke candidly with fans about his journey — from becoming an “Accidental IDOL” and his American Idol experience, to the creative journey of his recent concept album, and the artists and experiences that inspire his music. As a self-described writer of “happy songs with sad words”, he’s known not just for his infectious passion and energy, but also for his dedication to crafting songs that connect with people and help listeners navigate some of their most difficult times. When asked about his musical inspirations, he named artists like Bon Jovi, Journey, Fletcher, The Band CAMINO, and Jeremy Zucker. If you listen closely, you can hear threads of inspiration from each of these artists in his sound. Blending elements of pop punk, synth-pop, and musical theatre, KAYKO’s style is a unique mix that sounds great anywhere you listen, but takes on a whole new life when you experience it live.
The VIP setlist that followed included performances of his 2022 single “Crash and Burn,” a powerful cover of Journey’s “Faithfully”, and a few fun nods to his love for musical theatre, like Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and “Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen.
Opening the main show, pop duo Lost Stars (comprised of vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Damian Malnar and drummer/keyboardist Aaron Chase) warmed up the crowd with a mix of polished pop and emotional storytelling. Originally from Kansas City and now based in Nashville, the band has discography spanning back to 2019. Their set featured tracks from their recent albums C’est La Vie and All That Shit, as well as older fan-favorites like “Here’s to Being Single”, “Shit Just Got Real”, “Hoodie”, “Don’t Look Down”, and “Text You Back”. Their performance moved seamlessly between quiet, reflective moments and high-energy bursts, keeping the audience engaged throughout the journey and providing everyone a chance to hear a song that they would relate to. The band then took these connections off stage, taking the time to meet fans at their merch table while they waited for KAYKO to begin his performance.
When KAYKO hit the stage for his headlining set (accompanied by drummer Tim Murphy), the energy in the room surged further. He dove straight into material from Manic Pixie Dream Girl, delivering powerful performances of tracks like “I WANNA BE IN LOVE”, “FOREVER ALONE”, “SUGAR RUSH”, “HEARTBREAK INCARNATE”, “HONEYMOON”, and “FICTION”. These newer songs were balanced with older fan favorites, including “What If?” and “Time of Your Life” — the latter being the same song that unexpectedly launched his American Idol journey when he stepped in to accompany a friend at her audition.
Immediately following the last song, KAYKO sprinted off stage – not backstage, but to stand by the exit, where he stayed to speak with each and every fan on their way out. He didn’t just leave the interactions at a simple hello, but he made sure to form personal connections with everybody and sincerely thank them for coming out to the show. For those that had the VIP experience, he seemed to pick up conversations right where they had left off in the Q+A session, and for everybody else, he still connected just as sincerely, often pointing out their energy in the crowd or finding common ground to bond over. Not only did fans get to see an incredible performance, but they got to see a truly dedicated artist going out of his way to connect with and show appreciation for his community (and show off a seriously good memory to remember details about everybody in the crowd).
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl tour continues through late November with stops across the country. If you haven’t seen KAYKO or Lost Stars live yet, this is the perfect chance to catch two incredible acts delivering unforgettable performances.
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