Bryce Fox Live at the Ritz Ybor in Tampa

Have you seen Bryce Fox live yet? If you’re unfamiliar with Fox, picture a guy who sounds like he grew up sneaking into punk shows, vibing to hip-hop, and secretly loving a good pop banger. Born in Indiana, Fox bounced from L.A. to Nashville, soaking up influences like a musical sponge. His 2016 track “Horns” blew up—think 100 million streams and counting. His latest record, The Butterfly and the Bomb, is a wild ride of rock grit, electronic pulses, and lyrics that hit like a late-night confessional. He’s got Chris Cornell’s soulful rasp, a dash of The Weeknd’s sleek production, and enough swagger to make you wonder if he’s ever lost a bet. Opening for AWOLNATION’s Phantom Five tour, Fox was ready to steal the show so let’s get into it.

The Ritz Ybor: Tampa’s Gritty Music Haven

Walking into The Ritz Ybor is like stepping into a time machine that can’t decide between 1917 and 2025. This place, tucked in Tampa’s historic Ybor City, started as the Rivoli Theatre over a century ago, morphed into a silent movie house, then a nightclub, and now it’s a 1,200-capacity concert venue that’s hosted everyone from Lady Gaga to Nirvana. The interior screams industrial cool—exposed brick walls, towering ceilings, and chandeliers that look like they’ve seen some stories. The sound system is crisp, though the bass can hit so hard it feels like it’s rearranging your organs.

The Show: Fox Turns It Up to Eleven

After opening band Makua finished their set, it was time for Bryce to hit the stage. The crowd was a mix of college kids in band tees, thirty-somethings sipping IPAs, and a few folks who looked like they’d been to every Ybor show since the ‘90s. There was this one guy in a cowboy hat—God bless Tampa—dancing like he was auditioning for a music video. But when Fox kicks things off with “Golden Boy” and it’s like someone flipped a switch. The crowd responds immediately, even those who were adorned in Awolnation tour tees and cowboy hats. The swagger and charisma of Fox and his band were palpable, and it was clear he was winning over fans at the Ritz Ybor that night.

 

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His set, a tight 45 minutes, leaned hard into The Butterfly and the Bomb with tracks like “Psychopath”, “On God”, and “Butterfly”. “Psychopath” is such a fun song to hear live with its pulsing beat and fast tempo that blends genres flawlessly. From rapid-fire lyrical bursts to soaring alt-rock choruses that filled the venue, it’s not possible to “pin” his sound to a specific genre, which is a good thing!

I’ve been to enough concerts to know when someone’s just going through the motions. Bryce Fox? This guy was all in. His energy was contagious – it was evident he was having a blast on stage. His band was locked in, giving every song a live edge that made the album recordings sound tame in comparison. The only downside? I could’ve used another half-hour of Fox’s fire. He will be performing with Awolnation through mid-May, but I hope to catch him again with a longer headlining concert. Check out the full setlist from the Tampa show:

1. Golden Boy

2. Bodies

3. Psychopath

4. Nasty

5. Butterfly

6. Lucy

7. Stomp Me Out

8. Horns

9. On God

The Bottom Line

If Bryce Fox is rolling through your town, do yourself a favor and go. He’s got the songs, the voice, and the kind of stage presence that makes you feel alive. Tampa showed up on a Friday night, the Ritz Ybor delivered, and Fox left it all on the stage. Check out his socials, where he breaks down every track on The Butterfly and the Bomb.

Watch the music video for “Psychopath”:

CLICK OR TAP HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL BRYCE FOX WEBSITE

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