Sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl alive, with live music available to me with the wave of a magic wand. I’ve been able to see all of my favorite bands. Their performances have been incredibly impressive this year, as artists are embracing full album play-throughs in light of anniversaries. However, some artists made the cut who didn’t do a full record play-through. Whether their band just reunited, or they simply are powerhouse performers, these are my top 10 favorite performances I caught at a music festival this year.
10. Renee Rapp – Outside Lands: The Mean Girls starlet is anything but a one-trick pony. Rapp’s unique stage presence and musical stylings captivated a massive audience in the middle of the day at the San Francisco music festival. Her discography is large, especially to those who are only familiar with Rapp for her work in the 2023 film adaptation of Broadway’s musical version of the hit Lindsay Lohan movie. Rapp proves to be as influential as Regina George herself. Her single “Poison Poison” featured the most audience participation of the whole set.
9. Post Malone – Outside Lands: Post Malone’s evening set at Outside Lands was a pleasant surprise. Many artists venture out from the genre that made them famous, but doing country at a pop music festival was a bold choice—and one that worked! Post Malone went on right before country icon Sturgill Simpson. This timing got everyone excited in the same way that a solid opening act might. Plus, it was obvious that Posty was having so much fun up there. He brought out several of his country friends, like Jimmy Olander and David Lee Murphy. Yes, it was a cover set! But, don’t knock it until you try it. Post Malone’s enthusiasm for what he was performing was contagious, and I’m a country music skeptic at best.
8. Dashboard Confessional – When We Were Young Festival: I’m a casual Dashboard Confessional fan. Of course, I’m familiar enough with their big hits, like “Vindicated.” However, these songs receive a new life through live performances. This was my first time listening to Dusk and Summer in full, and it taught me that I really liked the record. This happened a few times in Las Vegas; I’d heard a hit song or two a million times, but the album tracks finally made their way to me. Dashboard Confessional even gave a shoutout to Emo Nite founder TJ Patrecca. It’s always fun to have a brief moment of “I KNOW THAT GUY!” to a crowd of people who don’t get it. Overall, Dashboard Confessional’s live sound was incredibly impressive.
7. Pierce The Veil – When We Were Young Festival: Pierce The Veil have been among my top favorite bands for years. Their record Collide With The Sky is such a scene staple. Unsurprisingly, this cultural phenomenon have made their way to the mainstream, becoming definitive of emo culture. The big hit singles have crossed over entirely, becoming synonymous with the entire subculture. I’ve seen Vic Fuentes and Kellin Quinn perform “King For A Day” many times, something that would send my teenage self into a coma. However, this full album play-through was truly unforgettable. There is something cathartic about hearing an LP played all the way through, especially one of this caliber. Honestly, long live Pierce The Veil.
6. The Killers – Outside Lands: Brandon Flowers leads one of the world’s most famous rock bands. The Killers have been playing “Mr. Brightside” for two decades, enthusiastically. Flowers’ contagious energy seeps through the crowd, even and especially in a densely packed, foggy San Francisco. This wasn’t The Killers’ first time headlining the festival; it was evident that these seasoned pros carried their expertise through every song. I got to experience the show through the lens of their biggest fan, my friend’s teenaged niece. Her excitement made everything feel all the more surreal, reinvigorating my love for live music as I saw it passed through generations. Plus, The Killers’ live set was among one of the most visually stunning I had ever seen.
5. Motion City Soundtrack – When We Were Young Festival: Motion City Soundtrack is known for verbose verses that resonate with (emo)tional audiences globally. For the past two decades, MCS has been captivating audiences by wearing their heart on their sleeve. Their cult classic “Everything Is Alright” still feels fresh today. Now, Justin Pierre stands in front of massive audiences a more confident and mature version of himself. However, this production was extra special; Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy joined MCS on stage to perform his bridge overlay in “Everything Is Alright.” This wholesome moment was akin to fulfilling a prophecy. The legend states that Justin invited Patrick to do MCS’ single after Fall Out Boy invited Justin to do “Chicago Is So Two Years Ago” from Take This To Your Grave. Justin performed “Chicago Is So Two Years Ago” with Fall Out Boy earlier this year.
4. Say Anything – When We Were Young Festival: The album play-through theme was strong this year at When We Were Young Fest and beyond. Say Anything had been touring their breakout record, …Is A Real Boy, all year, and I was so sad to miss it on the road. But oh boy, when it’s your favorite album being played in full—It hits. It’s the same emotional phenomenon I felt with the Motion City Soundtrack album play-through. It’s cathartic for both the audience and Max Bemis, who was visibly moved by several circumstances on Sunday night, including the looming existential threat of Trump Tower in his line of vision. There’s something extraordinary about hearing such a massive crowd sing along to songs that have shaped your life, with some being granted new meaning into adulthood.
3. Cobra Starship – When We Were Young Festival: Cobra Starship took the stage for the first time in over a decade for the Las Vegas rock festival, but they looked like they hadn’t missed a minute. I caught Cobra Starship on the Thursday before the festival for an intimate show at the Brooklyn Bowl. However, the flashy Vegas-y production levels of their afternoon slot was miles more impressive. They even included Gabe Saporta’s drag character, a Reno-based Elvis impersonator named Gary Rakowski, to commit to the “Hollaback Boy” bit. It was evident immediately that the group hunkered down for long rehearsal hours to deliver their best possible performance. Their current guitarist, Thrash (my new favorite member of Cobra Starship), even broke his knee, only to continue shredding. Plus, Patrick Stump appeared for another guest appearance, healing the parts of my childhood that relied on these songs.
2. Sabrina Carpenter – Outside Lands: I mostly stay within a very specific rock music niche. However, sometimes I get to cover the pop girls, and what they’re doing right now is so fun. Someone in Hollywood listened to the pleas of the masses; everyone wanted Lady Gaga levels of camp in a pop music festival performance. Sabrina Carpenter’s first-ever time headlining a major music festival was one for the books. Her variety show-styled performance was decked out at every corner, with a surprise appearance by Kacey Musgraves shinning like the sparkles on their outfits. It was the perfect teaser trailer for Carpenter’s hit Short n’ Sweet tour. I feel like I caught the first official performance of the North American leg. I did hear “Slim Pickins” and “Juno” before the album dropped and reshaped the trajectory of Carpenter’s career thanks to this show.
1. Fall Out Boy – When We Were Young Festival: Fall Out Boy are my favorite band of all time. No other artist can surpass the love I have for them as a fan. Truthfully, many of these acts are their friends whom I became fans of by association. Now we see Fall Out Boy in their prime; their best era was not their breakout record From Under The Cork Tree, which could have fit the album play-through theme perfectly. Instead, they are at their best when they embrace their discography. Their “Days Of Fall Out Past” festival concept is a clever take on the “eras” approach, where they explore everything. I got way too emo seeing Franklin, the sheep that adorns the Infinity On High album cover, in person. It’s a cool way to stay forward-thinking while appreciating the band’s legacy. Wiz Khalifa’s surprise appearance was the cherry on top.
