On the shores of Hampton Beach, Ripe proves they still know how to play the game
For the sake of being transparent, I feel as though I should disclose that I work for Ripe as their merch manager and photographer, but they do not have any oversight on this article. What is written here is purely my own words.
One night eight years ago, while driving around, I threw on my weekly discovery playlist, and the opening notes of a song called “Little Lighter” by a band called Ripe hooked me instantly. I knew it was something special, but I wouldn’t realize the effect it had on me until years later.
Prior to working for the band, I had been to over twenty Ripe shows and I have three tattoos inspired by their songs. I met the closest friends in my life, as well as my partner, through my love for this band. And now, every night I gear up for another show with them, I am taken back to that night as a 19 year old kid, listening to something I just knew was going to change my life.
Ripe’s show at Bernie’s Beach Bar on September 19 held more weight than their shows normally do. On June 27, 2025, Ripe released “Cheap Seats,” a love letter to spending the summer with your friends. The same day, they announced Play the Game, their third studio album. Hoping to celebrate this release with fans, Ripe was set to take the stage at Bernie’s Beach Bar in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Unfortunately, four of the six band members were caught in an accident, which resulted in the cancellation of the show, as well as temporarily putting the future of the band in jeopardy.
After receiving the go ahead to perform again, Ripe had an explosive (yet safe!) summer — from rocking the main stage at Levitate Music Festival to sold out shows at venues like The Chicken Box, Asbury Lanes, and The Ocean Mist. However, Ripe knew they needed to make it up to those fans in New Hampshire. To rectify their cancelled show, Ripe announced a special album release show on September 19, returning to Bernie’s, to give fans one final show for the summer.
This show, while tinged with some anxiety, was a victory lap, with Sampson Hellerman (Drums) saying, “Being here feels triumphant, it feels like a gift.” Robbie Wulfsohn (Vocals) followed it up with “That was a really difficult day, and and that difficulty led to a lot of gratitude to be able to do what we do at all, and I think coming back here and owning what happened feels really nice, and I am excited to be able to come back to Bernie’s and make a different memory from the last time I was here”
There was a buzz with this crowd, a sold out show, with a quarter of the fans having held onto their tickets after the previous show's cancellation earlier this summer. Over 1100 fans filed onto the rooftop of Bernie’s, overlooking the ocean. As the sun set, and the air cooled, Copilot took the stage first to warm this crowd up.
With their funky pop grooves, Copilot kicked off their set with their hit “Like Love Again,” letting Maggie Hall’s electrifying voice coaxing even the most stubborn anti-dancers to tap their feet and start moving their hips. The unique aspect of Copilot is the fact that they have three alternating lead singers, making each song they play feel fresh and energizing. Their retro pop style, with their funky rhythms and infectious happiness got the crowd moving and excited. With hits in the set like “Emily,” “A Little Too Well,” and “Theme Song,” fans knew they were in for a special night after such an incredible set.
Lights dimmed, and “Life In The Fast Lane” started playing (the band’s idea of a joke after their accident here!) and the crowd’s cheers were almost deafening. The rest of the band walks out, but Robbie takes a few extra moments to hype himself up in his own little preshow ritual, dancing in the dark and throwing jokes at fans who notice him. Jon Becker (guitar) ripped into the first note of “Try Not to Look” and the show kicked into high gear.
The opening hook of the song is this hypnotic guitar melody that pulled you into the show, and then the drums hit like a punch, and you are immediately entranced. The chorus hit and you could hear the fans screaming the lyrics better than you could hear Robbie. While this show was a celebration of the new album, Ripe still played the hits, following the opening song with fan favorite “Flipside,” a song about finding joy in the unknown, a theme they continue to explore in their latest album.
Speaking to fans prior to the show, an early favorite that they were looking forward to hearing live was “Beige Suit,” which was played early on in the show. While fans didn’t have the lyrics to this one down yet, the energy rose even higher, with everybody dancing as hard as they could. However, my personal favorite off the album, “Heartbreak Store,” came later in the set, and while the song as a whole was phenomenal live, during the bridge the horns and bass really shone, swelling together in the bridge before the drums took you back in for the outro.
While I can go on about how special this show was for the band and the fans, there were two fans in particular who had an extra special evening thanks to the band. After the band finished their love song “First Time Feeling,” they invited a fan, who had reached out prior to the show, up onto the stage, where he then proposed to his girlfriend in a very special moment, rallying the crowd with new energy for the rest of the show.
Ripe followed the proposal up with “Little Lighter” at the request of the newly engaged couple. The song is an absolute groove as it builds up to the bridge, before it slows, a wave of energy held back as fans anticipate what comes. The end of the bridge hits, and Robbie tells the crowd to jump, and the venue goes crazy. The wooden planks of the rooftop bar shook, shaking the stage, the bars, and the rest of the venue.
The band ended their main set with “Goon Squad,” a song about celebrating your life with your closest friends, before breaking for the encore. The band gathered in the stairwell behind the stage, taking a celebratory shot. Fans chanting and hollering the entire time, the band smiled as the energy coursed through them. Jon and Robbie retook the stage to do a special intro for the first song of the encore.
The title track of the new album. “Play the Game” is an intimate, gut-wrenching song exploring death and how you keep going after. Robbie’s guttural vocals, matched with Jon’s melancholic guitar created an intimate atmosphere that night, fans swaying with their loved ones. As the first verse built, the rest of the band came back to the stage for the chorus, with a deep bass line, crashing drums, and beautifully haunted horns, the performance captivated the crowd, leaving goosebumps running up the skin.
The show didn’t end with this sad feeling though, with them picking the energy back up with a rocking cover of “School of Rock”. While it may have left some of the younger audience members confused on what song it was, those who got it went hard. Finally, the band ended the show with “Downwards,” bring everybody back into a dancing mood to close everything out.
As the band walks off stage, Robbie calls out “What is the name of the band?” and the crowd responds with everything they have left “Ripe!”, leaving the boys with nothing but smiles and love.
Everybody has that band that changed their life. For me, that band is Ripe. To Robbie, Jon, Calvin, Sampson, and Yogi, I thank you for everything you have inspired me to do, the music you have created, and the opportunities you have given me. To Cass, Eran, Dave, Naismith, and Dones, I am in awe of the work you guys put in for every show and eternally grateful for showing me the ropes on tour. And with that, I will shut up.
You can stream “Play The Game” wherever you find your music and you can purchase it here.
Ripe kicks off their fall tour with Allen Stone on October 15th in Anaheim, Ca. For more dates and links to buy tickets, click the link here
RIPE SETLIST
Bernie’s Beach Bar, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire (9/19/2025)
Try Not To Look
Flipside
Friend in the Dark
Beige Suit
Young Tom Rose
Letting Go
Cheap Seats
Peacocks
Say it to Me
Heartbreak Store
Noise in the Forest
Strangers
First Time Feeling
<Proposal>
Little Lighter
Settling
Goon Squad
Play the Game (encore)
School of Rock (encore)
Downward (encore)
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MIKEY GALE | INSTAGRAM
