This past week Danny Elfman traveled to Philadelphia to play at the beautiful Met for his first-ever show (solo) in the city of Brotherly Love. Danny’s star-studded band took the stage: Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails), Nili Brosh (Dethklok), Josh Freese (Devo, Nine Inch Nails), Matt McJunkins (A Perfect Circle) & Irene Kim to set the tone for what we can expect tonight. Robin begins the show, embodying the music; he’s not shy with emotion. Without an opener, the first notes had to grab us, and it’s safe to say they did: 30 seconds in, people were smiling ear to ear, swaying, and getting ready for a spooky, music-filled night. And boy did we get that, playing songs mainly from his solo work, and favorites from the new-wave punk band “Oingo Boingo”.
A song that really stuck out to me was “Happy”, originally released in 2020, which really captured Danny’s character. Starting out, it appears to be a synth goth song but quickly translates to a metal masterpiece. When you are listening to Danny’s work, you have a pretty good idea as to how he was feeling, but seeing him perform live, the emotion he conveys is so real.
Halfway through the set, the stage got quiet. Danny is given a suit, a striped suit, and it’s a precursor to what we’re about to endure. Boys and girls of every age rise from their seats to sing along to Danny’s baby “This Is Halloween”. The backdrop showed a sequence of scenes from when the song was sung in “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” allowing the audience to feel like they’re in the room with Jack himself. After that, it didn’t stop, playing fan favorites such as “Dead Man’s Party”, “No One Lives Forever”, and to wrap up, “Who Do You Want to Be”.
Overall, this was one of my personal favorite shows of the year. It was refreshing to see a tour where you could tell actual work and preparation went into it. Everything from the setlist to the lighting, the hand-picked band, etc., backed this up. Don’t hesitate to see the Danny Elfman show in a city near you.
By Nicholas Martini
August 27, 2026
