West Hartford local Ian D’Arcangelo and One Time Weekend brought high-voltage jams, mosh pits, and crowd participation to Hartford’s Arch Street Tavern Friday night.

One Time Weekend bassist and West Hartford local, Ian D’Arcangelo, performs at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, for a pre-party of their annual Masquerade of Madness show. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski

By Mia Jaworski

West Hartford resident and Northwest Catholic alum Ian D’Arcangelo took the stage Friday night at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford with his band One Time Weekend. The group delivered a 19-song set, including a three-song encore, for a crowd of about 100.

The group – which bills itself as “the shredders of Connecticut” – blended funk, jam and metal into a set marked by guitar solos, a cheering crowd and strobes of colorful light.

One Time Weekend performs at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, for a pre-party of their annual Masquerade of Madness show. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski

At one point, the band and audience sat together on the floor for a song before leaping to their feet for an encore that ended with a mosh pit.

Formed in 2016, One Time Weekend has built a following across the Northeast and internationally through streaming. The Hartford-based quintet includes D’Arcangelo on bass and vocals, Adam Eytan on guitar and vocals, Sam McGarrity on guitar and vocals, Alex Giosa on drums and percussion, and Ben Sullivan on drums and percussion.

One Time Weekend performs at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, for a pre-party of their annual Masquerade of Madness show. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski

During the set, the band threw in playful snippets of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” and hints of Michael Jackson, adding unexpected touches to their high-energy performance.

One Time Weekend recently released their latest album, Couch Vacation, on Friday, June 13. The album joins their three previous releases dating back to 2019. The band also has several EPs and singles, along with live recordings from their annual Masquerade of Madness shows.

One Time Weekend performs at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, for a pre-party of their annual Masquerade of Madness show. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski

The band’s tour continues with shows Aug. 24 at The Homie Collective Campout in Charlton, MA, Aug. 28 in Portsmouth, NH, and Sept. 12 at Surfside Live in Meredith, NH.

They will return to Hartford on Dec. 13 for their annual “Masquerade of Madness” concert at Infinity Hall, a hometown tradition launched to spotlight regional musicians and artists.

One Time Weekend sees the Masquerade of Madness as more than just a concert, it’s a community gathering that highlights visual and musical arts, drawing inspiration from events like Scotland’s Fringe Festival.

2024 Masquerade of Madness. Courtesy Photo

At the 2024 show, the band donned masks and crowns, joining past musical guests such as members of Twiddle, Trombone Shorty, and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer.

One Time Weekend performs at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, for a pre-party of their annual Masquerade of Madness show. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski

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