The Band Camino visited The Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA, for their NeverAlways tour on November 16th, bringing their iconic alternative rock sound and a crowd eager to see them. For an opener, Almost Monday took the stage to a packed crowd anticipating Camino. This indie pop band from San Diego (CA) is composed of Dawson Daugherty (lead vocals), Luke Fabry (bass, backing vocals), and Cole Clisby (lead guitar, backing vocals). They definitely leaned into their pop sound, with frontman Daugherty keeping the crowd entertained through his dancing and stage presence. Almost Monday was the perfect opener for The Band Camino, getting the crowd ready for the fantastic set to follow.
Originating from Memphis, TN, The Band Camino (often referred to as ‘Camino’) is composed of Jeffery Johnson (lead vocals/keyboard/guitar), Garrison Burgess (drums), and Spencer Steward (lead vocals/guitar). Focusing on themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and doubt, Camino offers honest and genuine lyrics that contribute to their success as a band. Producing an alternative indie rock sound, their music tends to be upbeat with a heavy emphasis on the guitar and dual lead vocals.
With two lead singers, the band created a sound rare to experience live. As Johnson and Steward alternated taking the lead on songs, the other would lift the vocals to a truly breathtaking level. Steward’s talent on the electric guitar did not go unrecognized; he riffed with the rest of the band as the other members let him go into a euphoric state. Johnson and Steward often jammed together and looked to drummer Burgess to keep them on track. As Burgess’s set-up was on an elevated mirrored platform, watching him drum was mesmerizing for the audience.
Their three studio-recorded albums follow an indie rock theme, with hints of pop rock. The Band, CAMINO (self-titled album), was released in 2021. This album included breakout hits for the band, such as “2/14” and “Daphne Blue”. Their following album, The Dark, released in 2023, features songs like “Told You So” and “What Am I Missing?”, which have become increasingly popular among their fanbase. The Dark focuses on personal struggles such as self-doubt, fear, and a level of vulnerability that hadn’t been explored before. NeverAlways, released in July 2025, focuses on the theme of intense self-growth and change. This album has been called their most honest album to date. With heavy elements of alternative pop rock, songs such as “Hates Me Yet (222)” and “Stupid Questions” stand out for their lyrically rich, guitar-centric production and soft undertones. “Limbo” on the album is a quiet song that demonstrates the band’s ability to be vulnerable with a piano-centered track that quickly erupts into a heavy rock song. Camino has started to solidify their sound, as this album feels more mature and has a more polished sound to it.
In Philadelphia, Camino played an array of songs from their studio albums, including what Johnson referred to as ‘deep cuts’ from their earlier EPs. Their classic hit,“Daphne Blue”, opened the show. Immediately engaged the crowd and set the tone for the rest of their astounding set. Songs from 2017, “Berenstein” & “Heaven”, elicited a huge reaction from fans who couldn’t believe they were hearing them live for the first time, ever (according to Johnson). As the majority of their songs featured their alternative rock sound, Camino was not afraid to push the envelope by morphing new sounds into their set. In the middle of their set, they effectively calmed the roaring crowd into a quiet, intimate acoustic set. Songs such as “Hate Me Yet (222)” and “Berenstein” translated beautifully into acoustic, lyric-heavy ballads. By the end of the set, there were elements of synth-y guitar and a move towards an unexpected electric sound. Camino’s versatility was beyond impressive. Finishing the set on a high note by playing their newest single, “12:34” and “What I Want” as an encore.
