AN INSIDE LOOK : The Internet hometown hero’s homecoming

Mico takes Toronto

All Photos by Cleah Fast

Cut to Toronto: Mico wheels his bike onto a stage that's a perfect replica of the cover of his Internet Hometown Hero EP. A month from the unforgettable show in the City of Dreams, Mico returns home to play the iconic Opera House to a sold-out crowd. The entire week leading up to the show, I couldn't get out of my head how good he had been in New York. And I knew Toronto-the city that raised him-would only elevate that energy even further. Let me tell you, the 1,000 fans who crammed into the Opera House made one thing abundantly clear: for this night, Toronto belonged to Mico. 

The second he stepped onto the stage, the vibe in the room changed. From the set design to the lighting, down to even interactable props, this was no ordinary performance. The stage itself was an intricate blend of nostalgia and innovation, replete with old TVs synced to the lights and occasionally playing clips from his music videos. This show marked two years since Mico's first-ever Toronto performance, and the significance wasn't lost on anyone. The floor of the Opera House was completely invisible under the mass of fans, with truly electric energy. Raffaele and Jason added to this charm at times when the pair took seats on stage-as if they were back in their bedrooms, casually playing their favorite songs for the first time.

Mico and band performed the Internet Hometown Hero EP front to back, like he did for his NYC show, not stopping one time. Once they got into idontwannaknow, Matt took center stage behind the drum kit, playing with impeccable timing and obvious drum breaks. The segue into my personal favorite, glhf<3, took things to a whole new level. The entire Opera House was jumping, and Mico, who’s inner child couldn't resist, jumped onto the barrier to get closer to his fans. On the other side, they clung to every word, belting out lyrics with a passion that could rival the band itself.

Mico’s connection with his audience is unlike anything I’ve seen. From Matt exchanging heart symbols with fans in the crowd to Raffaele recognizing faces in the front row, every member of the band made the audience feel seen. Meanwhile, Mico had the uncanny ability to interact with the entire crowd as though he was reconnecting with old friends. For me, it was one of those rare moments where the room felt united—pure joy radiated as every voice joined in harmony.

Closing the EP with What You’re Not, the show hit an emotional high point. Jason and Raffaele shared a touching moment, locking eyes and singing the lyrics to each other as they played. But the night was far from over. Mico shifted gears dramatically, playing FE! N by Travis Scott, and the 22 year old's opener, Hayden Henderson ran right back on stage.The pair recreated a hilarious moment from their New York show before Mico directed the crowd to open a mosh pit—and then dove into it himself.

It did not stop there. Mico segued into a cover of Panic! At The Disco-the crowd went wild with nostalgic cheers. The two girls behind me couldn't even handle it, yelling about how this was their favorite song in high school. Meanwhile, Mico stopped to play around with a fan who yelled for him to take something off, saying, "This is a family-friendly f***ing show," before winking at the crowd and ignoring all requests for songs.

But Jason and Raffaele added an extra layer of humor to the evening. Throughout the night, the two munched casually on real apples from the set props. At one point, Raffaele tossed an apple to Jason, who fumbled the catch, prompting laughter from the crowd. Naturally, Jason picked it up and slowly ate it, milking the humor for all it was worth.

Not to be outdone is the friendship between Mico and Hayden. Playful on-stage rivals, they made the show a lot more fun. In New York, Mico surprised Hayden mid-set with a Nerf gun; in Toronto, Hayden got his revenge, returning the favor during Mico's performance.

The band stepped aside for a brief moment, leaving Mico solo to create an intimate atmosphere. Before singing twenty-something, he opened up about a tough period in his career and shared how streaming dips once made him doubt whether people cared about his music. It was a full-circle moment, a testament to his growth and resilience, watching him connect with a sold-out crowd in his hometown. 

Adding to all these surprises, Mico brought out Alex Porat for an insane cover of Sabrina Carpenter's Taste. The audience was already amazed, but it was far from over. In a sudden movement, the lights cut to black, and the room dimmed with just the glow of the TVs remaining. And when the opening notes of Cut My Hair started to play, the Opera House exploded. The crowd was singing so loud that Mico's microphone almost drowned out. He jumped onto the barrier again, spraying water into the crowd, feeding off their explosive energy.

It was the perfect way to close the night, with the entire room immersed in the moment. Coming from New York, where live music is the gold standard, I wasn't sure Toronto could bring that same heat. But Mico and his city didn't just rise to meet that challenge-they shut it down. The vibe, energy, and love in the room? Unreal. Toronto proved it's got its own magic, and Mico? He's more than a hometown hero-he is on the verge of blowing up globally.

With Europe being next on his list, it won't be long until the whole world knows what Toronto's been shouting all along.

Mico is that guy.