Finn Wolfhard Brings ‘Happy Birthday’ Home to a Sold-Out Rickshaw Theatre

Finn Wolfhard is known to most as an actor, but music has always been just as central to his identity. Before Stranger Things, before Ghostbusters, he was sneaking time with his parents’ Beatles records and trying to channel The Replacements in his own writing. After projects with Calpurnia and The Aubreys, he’s now stepped out under his own name with Happy Birthday, a stripped-down, personal debut solo album released June 6, 2025. It’s raw, heartfelt, and full of lo-fi charm; a reflection of the 22-year-old’s push to make something that feels totally his.

That same energy was front and center at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre on June 12, where Wolfhard played a sold-out show for his The Objection! Tour. Demand was so high, a second date was added for June 13. Still, the Rickshaw stayed packed with fans eager to see the hometown star take the stage, not as an actor, but as a songwriter.

The Slaps kicked off the night, pulling double duty as both openers and Wolfhard’s backing band. Their own set had some solid grooves and great energy, but the crowd felt quiet in my opinion. It was the kind of polite reception you give a friend’s band, not one you lose yourself in. Still, the band held their own and laid down the groundwork for what came next.

After a short animated intro projected onto the Rickshaw’s screens, Wolfhard and the band stepped out, all dressed in matching grey Thom Browne suits, to the warped intro track “Happy BDay.” It was a slick, cinematic start that quickly gave way to “Objection!” and “Choose the Latter.”

Wolfhard didn’t talk much between songs, but when he did, it was all gratitude. He thanked the crowd for coming out, reminded them this was the last stretch of the tour, and gave Vancouver a shoutout as “the best city in the world” after tearing through “Eat.” He wasn’t wrong, the crowd was fired up by that point, clapping along to the slow-burn build of “Everytown There’s a Darling” and shouting every word of “No Offerings.” That last one hit hardest: a dreamy, synthy duet with Lunar Vacation’s Grace Repasky.

Other highlights included the soft ache of “You” and the sharp punch of “Powder Finger,” both songs showing off Wolfhard’s range. “Trail” carried a loose, spontaneous charm, like it was being made up on the spot, in the best way.

The main set closed with “Wait,” a delicate end that mirrored the album’s final moments. Then came the encore. Kicking off with “In the Street” and “Trailers After Dark,” the band saved the chaos for last. “Crown” came with a warning from Wolfhard: “Go fucking nuts, this is the last song.” The crowd didn’t need to be told twice.

At just about an hour, the set was short, but fair: one album, no filler. Wolfhard’s performance was understated but confident. These were his songs, and this was his night. Happy Birthday felt right at home.