Los Angeles, get ready to say goodbye to one of the city’s most beloved rock ‘n’ roll weirdos. Kyle Thomas aka King Tuff is bidding farewell to the City of Angels with a final hometown performance at The Lodge Room in Highland Park on Wednesday, May 15, 2025. As part of what’s being called a celebratory send-off rather than a swan song, this show promises to be a psych-fuzz-reverb drenched night of gratitude, good vibes, and garage-glam magic.
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Tickets for King Tuff’s farewell LA show are going fast, and for good reason: this isn’t just another tour stop—it’s the end of an era for fans who’ve followed his journey from lo-fi beginnings to Sub Pop success. Whether you’ve been spinning Was Dead since 2008 or fell in love with the introspective shimmer of 2023’s Smalltown Stardust, this Lodge Room date is a rare chance to experience the full spectrum of King Tuff’s sound one last time in his hometown.
Why This Show Matters
This isn’t just a concert—it’s a transmission from a singular creative force. Over the years, King Tuff has helped shape LA’s indie-psych-rock landscape with his signature mix of garage rock crunch, glittery mysticism, and playful showmanship. His music and live shows channel everything from Bolan and Bowie to his contemporaries Ty Segall and John Dwyer, all filtered through a lens of wide-eyed Vermont weirdness.
The May 15 show at the Lodge Room is expected to feature a career-spanning setlist, surprise guests, and the kind of intimate energy you only get at a hometown farewell. If the recent shows on his tour are any indication, fans can expect high-energy renditions of tracks like “Black Moon Spell,” “Psycho Star,” and “Love Letters to Plants,” along with plenty of heartfelt banter and musical curveballs.
Excerpt from one of our first reviews of King Tuff in 2015
“Finally, LA staple King Tuff took his turn. Dawning a new Raider cap instead of his trademark Dodgers, he picked up his bedazzled Gibson SG and the smoke machines let loose. He opened with “Madness” which was extremely fitting for how the crowd reacted. This time I took a kick to the head and a few fists to the ribs. You have to respect the enthusiasm of the Burger youth. King Tuff took the time to thank everybody and address the show as a “Burger family event” and he couldn’t have been more right. The set was action packed with billowing smoke and relentless stage diving. The air was thick enough to cut a slice out of it and Tuff’s buzzsaw guitar sound seemed to do so. King Tuff capped the night with “Anthem” and beer showered the crowd as everyone tried to catch their breath. I now have whiplash and a hangover.” by Danny Baraz
The Lodge Room: A Perfect Setting
The Lodge Room in Highland Park has become one of LA’s premier venues for artists looking to connect deeply with their fans. Its warm acoustics, Masonic architecture, and historic atmosphere make it a fitting backdrop for King Tuff’s last stand in LA. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering his music, this venue offers the kind of immersive live music experience that turns a gig into a memory.
related: A Love Letter to the Lodge Room Highland Park
Don’t Miss King Tuff’s Final LA Performance
Whether you’re there to dance, cry, or just soak it all in, King Tuff’s farewell show at the Lodge Room is a must-see event for fans of garage rock, psych pop, and DIY music culture. With a decade’s worth of creative energy and in all likelihood an emotional nostalgia percolating in his soul, Kyle Thomas is sure to deliver a night that’s weird, wild, and wonderfully unforgettable.
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King Tuff at The Lodge Room – Farewell Los Angeles Show
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2025
Venue: The Lodge Room, Highland Park
Time: Doors at 7 PM / Show at 8 PM
Tickets: Available now via Lodge Room’s official website and select ticketing platforms
For fans, this isn’t goodbye—it’s thank you.
Featured Image taken by Taylor Wong
