The Wonder Years — https://loneliestplaceonearth.com/pages/the-wonder-years — bring the No Closer to Heaven 10th Anniversary Tour to The Ritz in Raleigh on 3/6/26, centering the night around a full performance of No Closer to Heavenbefore returning for a second set drawn from across their catalog. Critics have long framed the band as a defining voice where pop-punk’s velocity meets emo’s narrative density, built on big choruses, specific storytelling, and a live show that thrives on shared release rather than spectacle. This anniversary run stretches across North America in March and April, moving through major U.S. cities before closing with an extended hometown stand in Philadelphia, reinforcing the album’s legacy rather than treating it as nostalgia. The most recent release tied to this era is the 10th-anniversary edition of No Closer to Heaven, fully remixed and remastered, reaffirming an album that remains one of the band’s most direct and enduring statements.

Knuckle Puck — https://knucklepuckil.com/ — step in as direct, high-impact support, carrying a reputation critics consistently describe as modern pop-punk grounded in emo’s emotional clarity. Their songwriting stays concise and muscular, favoring momentum over excess, which makes them especially effective in a room like The Ritz where immediacy matters. Their touring history has earned them credibility across scenes rather than within a single lane, and their recent cycle has focused on refining their catalog, highlighted by the full-length Losing What We Love alongside updated and remastered material that underscores the staying power of their earlier work. On this tour, they’re positioned to hit hard, keep the pace tight, and bridge the opener’s urgency with the headliner’s emotional weight.

Equipment — https://www.equipmentband.com/ — open the night with a sound critics tend to frame as restless, forward-leaning emo, shaped by sharp turns, clean hooks, and a modern sense of pacing that never drifts into nostalgia. They’ve been steadily releasing new material, favoring shorter, focused releases that keep their songwriting immediate and current, and their placement on this tour reflects a band still building forward rather than looking back. For Raleigh, Equipment set the tone early, warming the room with energy and tension before handing things off, making them a clear “don’t show up late” opener on a bill designed to move fast and hit clean.