The Living Tombstone @ Royale 10/5

Photography by Ria Northover

Review by Maaya O’Flaherty

Nearly 15 years after first uploading videos to YouTube, The Living Tombstone has transformed from an internet phenomenon into a full-fledged global act. The electronic rock duo, composed of producer Yoav Landau and vocalist Sam Haft, brought their world tour to Boston on Sunday night at Royale, transforming the sold-out venue into a neon-soaked show of nostalgia and spectacle.

Formed in 2011, The Living Tombstone (TLT) made their name with viral songs inspired by video games and internet pop culture. Over the years, they’ve evolved beyond their fandom roots, creating multi-genre anthems with their signature electronic sound. Their second album, “Rust,” was released in May 2025 and explores heavier themes of social justice and personal identity while still embracing the group’s distinctive high-voltage sound. The tour marks the duo’s first large-scale international run.

The show opened in near darkness, with the stage framed by pulsating laser lights. As the first notes of “I Can’t Fix You,” one of their most recognizable “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF) tracks, cut through the air, two glowing silhouettes emerged: “Rust” (Haft) and “zero_one” (Landau), both dressed in LED-lined suits and masks that encompassed their onstage aliases. The visual spectacle instantly pulled the crowd into their digital world. Hundreds of fans, many cosplaying as game characters inspired by TLT’s earliest songs, jumped and shouted to the beat.

The set list covered a wide range of eras from the band’s catalog. The duo revisited fan favorites such as “No Mercy,” based on the video game “Overwatch,” and “Die in a Fire,” based on FNAF, both of which ignited wild sing-alongs in the crowd. Haft leaned into the chaos, holding the mic to the crowd for alternating lines. The audience needed no prompting; they knew every lyric.
Songs from their debut album, “zero_one”, such as “Drunk” and “Sunburn,” filled the room with thunderous bass and energy paired with more personal lyrics. But the true highlights came from “Rust.” The new songs “Somebody” and “Orphans” offered moments of reflection amid the high-energy chaos, showing how far the band has evolved musically. In their live performance, the contrast between their older gaming-inspired songs and newer studio tracks demonstrated their versatility and growth beyond the TLT’s YouTube origins.

One of the most impressive aspects of the show was how Landau’s signature robotic voice, as heard in TLT’s YouTube tracks, translated perfectly to a live setting. Rather than relying on pre-recorded filters, Landau used live vocal processors to recreate his digital tone in real time. It was a case of virtual sound design feeling even more powerful in person.

Between songs, Haft and Landau frequently addressed the audience, sharing gratitude and stories behind their art. In one especially touching moment, Landau opened up about his experience with autism and how creating The Living Tombstone allowed him to express his emotions and passions through music. His honesty was met with applause, underscoring how deeply fans relate to the band’s authenticity.

Audience interaction was a core part of the night. The band repeatedly encouraged crowd participation, leading chants, organizing dance breaks, telling corny jokes, and prompting call-and-response moments throughout the show.  During “Discord,” Haft and Landau made their way down to the front row, high-fiving fans. One of the night’s funniest moments came when Landau borrowed a fan’s furry head and performed their last song, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” while wearing it, prompting laughter and cheers. The duo also took time to individually name and thank the members of their sound team, lighting crew, manager, and even their costume designer—a level of recognition rarely seen onstage.

During the encore, Rust and zero_one transformed from their anonymous personas into Haft and Landau as they finally removed their glowing helmets, revealing their faces to cheers. The unmasking was followed by a back-to-back sprint through their most popular—and arguably most iconic—songs: “It’s Been So Long,” “Discord,” and “My Ordinary Life.” Each track hit with the force of pure nostalgia. The encore also included one of TLT’s long-standing live traditions: before launching into “My Ordinary Life,” Landau ran his finger along Haft’s tattoo of the sheet music for the song’s opening melody, eliciting excited screams from the crowd. By the last chorus of “It’s Been So Long,” the entire audience was jumping and chanting along to the now-iconic “meow” outro. Before the final song, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the band thanked the audience for helping the song blow up online, saying it turned them into “rockstars” and eventually led to its feature in the movie of the same name.

As the final notes faded and the LED lights dimmed to black, The Living Tombstone left the stage unmasked, and it was clear that they had achieved balancing the playfulness of their gaming-inspired origins with the emotional depth of their newer material—reminding everyone why their music has resonated for more than a decade.