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Dexter and the Moonrocks Take Globe Iron to the Moon
- Madison Cozzens
- Jun 22
- 5 min read
Dexter and the Moonrocks Turn Cleveland into a Grunge Rock Oasis
Article and Photos Contributed by Madison Cozzens
Dexter and the Moonrocks is reaching further than they ever thought possible. With a #1 song on the alternative charts and sold-out shows, anyone can see they are gaining traction. The group came to Cleveland on the tail end of their “The Donkey Flats” tour. The show sold out weeks before the performance, and fans lined up outside Globe Iron in hopes of getting close to the stage. The 1,200-capacity venue was the perfect setting for a rock show, with plenty of pit space to crowd surf, mosh, and vibe to the music. The scene was set, the people were ready, all they needed was a show.
High June Kicks off the Night
The first band of the evening was High June, an alternative rock band from North Carolina. The group brought the perfect energy to get the night started. With a unique sound that can’t be defined by boundaries or any one genre, they quickly grabbed the attention of the crowd. High June is a group of friends playing music together, and it comes through in their performance. While the young band had a great sound and chemistry, the frontman, Jack Flowers, stole the show. Flowers has one of those voices that doesn’t seem to match his appearance; the raspy, gritty vocals sound like a 90’s alternative star in his prime. That voice matched with an energetic performance full of movement and crowd participation made for a great start to the night.
Flowers wasn’t the only member of High June to bring the energy; the group’s bassist Ryon Gerringer was the first crowd surfer of the evening. He climbed down into the pit as the rock music continued to play. Eager fans reached their arms up to support him as he made his way around the venue. Gerringer surfed his way across the venue with arms in the air before making his way back to the stage. High June was a perfect opener; the crowd was pumped up and ready for the next band to start.
Welcome to Appalachia
If you read our review of The Wombats’ show, you may recognize the next group that took the stage, Cigarettes @ Sunset. The “Appalachian possum rock” band brought their signature sound; not just rock, bluegrass, or country, but a blend that becomes something all its own. Through the lead singer, Garrett Dellinger’s raspy and raw vocals, you can feel the emotion behind every song. He bops around the stage interacting with all the band members, swinging his guitar around and getting personal with the crowd. About halfway through the set, Dellinger got into the pit, weaving his way through the crowd until he found his stopping point. While the song was holding before the beat drop, he got everyone around him to get down as low as they could, waiting in anticipation. He screamed the countdown into the microphone, and the pit exploded with people jumping around and headbanging to the song. Dellinger was right in the middle of it all, giving those around him something special to hold onto. The group seems to be everywhere in 2026, and we’re sure they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
The Moonrocks Take the Stage
After two opening bands to get the party started, Dexter and the Moonrocks hit the stage at 10pm. The band came out to thunderous applause; the crowd had been waiting all night for this moment. Dexter and the Moonrocks’ music is self-identified as “Western Space Grunge”, their lyrics and instrumentals resonate with lovers of the “Midwest Emo” genre. The group’s drummer Ryan Fox arrived appropriately dressed, wearing a cowboy hat and boots with a vintage Cleveland Indians shirt. Many in the crowd matched his vibe in oversized T-shirts, camo dad hats, and cowboy hats. Sad in Carolina was their first song of the night, a perfect amalgamation of what their music is all about. A song about being sad, a chorus that people can sing along to, and catchy guitar riffs.
While the band may seem nonchalant when playing their music, their live show is anything but. The crowd surfing and moshing began almost immediately. One of the most memorable parts of the night was during the crowd surfing. While he was not the first, he made an impression as a wheelchair user lifted into the air, chair and all. Throughout the song, he made his way through the crowd, fellow concertgoers lifting him up. It was heartwarming to see someone get to experience something they may have never had the chance to. The entire venue felt the same way; phones were up, capturing the moment, and smiles were plastered on every face. When the song was over, the lead singer, James Tuffs, had the venue turn the lights up so the crowd could more easily surf the man back to his friends. Anyone who attended the show won’t forget that experience anytime soon.
Who’s Dexter?
Dexter and the Moonrocks consists of four friends: James Tuffs (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Ryan Anderson (Lead Guitar, Harmonies), Ty Anderson (Bass, Harmonies), and Ryan "Fox" Fox (Drums, Harmonies). The group found success with their song Couch on TikTok, gaining traction and seemingly never stopping. Taking a look at their social media, the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously. The self deprecating jokes and Gen-Z humor lend themselves well to the band’s music and growing their fanbase. A combination of their online presence, relatable lyrics, catchy melodies, and a great live show has had them on the top of the alternative charts for weeks. With their most recent release, 12 Steps featuring country rock band Treaty Oak Revival, Dexter and the Moonrocks has shown us they’re not stopping anytime soon.
A Night to Remember
Towards the end of the night during Bird and the Bees, a couple towards the barricade got engaged. Tuffs gave the couple a shoutout, and the venue shouted out in cheers and congratulations to the couple. Fans got another surprise as the band was planning on playing one unreleased song, but thanks to Cleveland’s energy, they added another to the setlist. Fans were head banging and swaying with each other as they took in this brand new experience together. The energy overall that evening was unreal, and Globe Iron was the perfect place for this show. The brick and steel warehouse made everything feel intimate and personal; like a garage band performance on a larger scale. Dexter and the Moonrocks’ music reaches just about anyone; whether you’ve been in a bad relationship, you deal with anxiety or depression, or even if you’ve just had a bad day. It’s something that resonates with people; the sold-out show and topping of the charts is evidence of that. The connection between everyone at Globe Iron that evening was apparent, whether they knew each other or not. Dexter and the Moonrocks brought us all together and made it a night to remember.
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