Phoebe Bridgers just gave a surprise performance of her new song Lost Boys on The Tonight Show – and her band was made up of viral kid musicians.
Armed with a custom Gibson acoustic guitar, Bridgers performed the lead single from her forthcoming album, Lost Weekend, with help from her unexpected backing band.
That ensemble included a number of rising child music stars, including 11-year-old Bay Melnick Virgolino on 12-string guitar. The pocket-sized shredder has been mentored by ex-Megadeth virtuoso Kiko Loureiro, starred on America’s Got Talent, and stole the show when he performed with Slash and Joe Bonamassa.
Also spotted on the studio stage was YouTuber EllenPlaysBass, who has over 700,000 subscribers, and 10-year-old drummer Ryder B, who has more than 270,000 followers on Instagram.
14-year-old Saxon Weiss, who has been championed by Norman Harris and Joe Bonamassa, completed the three-strong guitar lineup.
Commenting on the YouTube video, EllenPlaysBass wrote, “It was an honor to be a part of this amazing show, thank you all.”
Rolling Stone reports that Bridgers’ bandmates are aged between eight and 14.
There’s no official word on what prompted the move, but considering the song is about lost boys “who never grow up, never go home, and never spend their lunch money”, it seems to be a pertinent reminder of the fleetingness of youth.
The song is Bridgers’ first new slice of music since The Record, her sophomore release with supergroup boygenius, for which Bridgers teamed up with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus.
The band released a signature Gretsch for under $700 in 2024, but it’s Bridgers’ use of metal guitars like the B.C. Rich Warbeast that has arguably turned the most heads.
Lost Weekend releases on August 14 and will be supported with a tour of the US.
