On the 8th of April, the night had finally arrived as the Big Rock Tour took over Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. Featuring co-headliners A Day To Remember and Papa Roach, with Landmvrks opening, it promised to be a feast for rock fans. From the moment people lined up outside to when they poured into the venue, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation, everyone was ready for the night ahead.

Kicking off the evening were Landmvrks, all the way from France. The heavy hitters received a warm welcome from the Melbourne crowd, with fans fully engaged throughout their set and feeding off the band’s intensity. I had heard many great things about this band from the last time they were here last year for their headline tour and they definitely lived up to the expectations. 

Next up was the first headliner of the evening, Papa Roach, a band who formed in 1993, they are responsible for staple tracks like Scars and Help. This was their first time back in Australia since 2023, and they made sure it was unforgettable. Their set was hot and fiery, with pyro blazing across the stage for the majority of the performance. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix is just such an energising frontman, effortlessly working the crowd. At one point, he jokingly claimed that Perth and Adelaide were better crowds, earning boos from the audience before quickly revealing he was just trying to rile Melbourne up and wanted to see even more energy. He also called out those still sitting, shouting, “This isn’t a U2 concert,” trying to get everyone to get on their feet. Not confining himself to the stage, he got fully into the mix of it and joined those in the tiered seating on the left side of the arena getting up close and personal with the fans during To Be Loved.

During intermission, the tone shifted with a message from Jacoby appearing on screen speaking on mental health awareness, alongside their incredible initiative to donate a portion of ticket sales from each show to a local mental health charity. This then transitioned into the emotional track Leave a Light On paired with phone lights filling the arena, which was then followed by a moment of silence for suicide victims. After thanking the crowd, the band reignited the energy with Scars, which sounded phenomenal live. We also got to hear a newer release called BRAINDEAD which was described by Jacoby himself as meant to be for the mosh pit, and it was a hit!

They then took fans on what Jacoby called a “nu-metal time machine,” playing snippets of classics like Blind, My Own Summer, which then lead to him making his way into the seats at the right side of the stage for Break Stuff, and Chop Suey and saying hello to those at the back of the arena. The medley wrapped up with Jacoby returning to the stage before launching straight into their iconic closer, Last Resort, with the entire arena singing along.

Let’s just say, by the end of the set, Jacoby Shaddix was praising Melbourne as the best crowd of the tour so far, even stating, “I haven’t said that yet.” Here’s hoping the Melbourne crowd can hold onto that title for the rest of the Australian tour.

Papa Roach may have been a “nice to see” band for me beforehand, but after that performance they’ve become a must-see, and I have no doubt many others left feeling the same. Ending their set, Jacoby said he couldn’t wait to return to Melbourne again, and if this show is anything to go by, fans will be hoping it’s sooner rather than later.

As the lights dimmed again, the screen lit up with A Day To Remember’s rock-carved logo, one by one, the band members took the stage before frontman Jeremy McKinnon ran out to an even louder roar. They wasted no time, kicking things off with The Downfall of Us All, what a perfect, high-energy opener that had the entire arena singing along. Their setlist perfectly balanced old favourites with newer tracks, including All My Friends from their latest album, which already feels like a future classic judging by the volume that the song was sung back to them, with an explosive of confetti during the bridge.

Jeremy took a moment to thank the crowd for welcoming them back, reflecting on how important Australia has been to the band’s journey. He shared that on their very first visit, they played to such a large crowd, and said they’ve probably toured Australia more than anywhere else outside of the US. He also added that they’re “trying to move here,” laughing as he asked if anyone wanted to marry them for visas, “we need five husbands.”

If you’re part of the scene, Have Faith In Me is one of those songs you have to hear live at least once, it’s a true anthem. Dedicated to all the ladies in the crowd, and just like on the studio version, it begins acoustically before building into a heavier, more powerful moment in the bridge, hitting even harder in a live setting. Paired with a burst of confetti raining down, the whole arena was singing along, adding to the euphoric atmosphere.

That energy quickly shifted as an epic mosh broke out during the iconic breakdown of Mr. Highway’s Thinking About the End. A Day To Remember’s “crowd surfing on top of crowd surfers” segment made its usual appearance, with Jeremy joking, “As you can see, it’s also fcking dangerous and you probably shouldn’t do it, but who are we to stand in the way of you becoming a fcking living legend,” which sent crowdsurfers surging toward the stage during It’s Complicated.

Then came LeBron, where inflatable basketballs filled the pit and two hoops were brought out for a crowd competition, because, of course. The left side clearly dominated, prompting Jeremy to jokingly fold up the right side’s hoop for a moment mid-song. All I Want followed, keeping the crowd’s energy high as everyone clapped in unison, before The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle continued the momentum with the band bouncing along with the crowd.After joking “f*ck encores, we’re just going to play three more songs if that’s okay with you,” the band returned to a softer moment with If It Means a Lot to You. The crowd sang every word back as phone lights filled the arena once again, with another burst of confetti during the heavy bridge.

Thanking everyone for coming to the Big Rock Tour, they closed the night with All Signs Point to Lauderdale, saying, “We’re A Day To Remember, this is our last one for tonight, let’s see if you know this one,” as rolls of toilet paper flew through the pit. 

With pyro, confetti, rolls of toilet paper and basketballs flying everywhere, it was pure chaos in the best possible way. The band sounded just as impressive live as they do in the studio, all while delivering an incredibly fun performance.

The Big Rock Tour delivered everything you could want from a night of heavy music, energy, chaos and nostalgia. From start to finish, each band brought something different, but together they created a show that will be very hard to forget!

A Day To Remember :

Papa Roach :

Of all the places to be on a school night, attending a show featuring 2 heavyweights of the 2010’s scene era probably wouldn’t be the first thing to come to mind. For a couple thousand passionate fans though, that’s exactly what they decided to do. Madison, WI was right in the heart of The Devil Wears Prada’s “Flowers” tour, with support from Four Year Strong, Split Chain, and I Promised The World. 

Unfortunately, I Promised The World had to cancel tonight due to illness, but they should bounce right back to prove how their relentless work ethic and talent has earned them a well deserved place on this tour. 

Up next was Split Chain all the way from Bristol, England. Their new twist on shoegaze and nu-metal was already working its magic of whipping the early crowd into a moshing frenzy. They took advantage of every single second they had on stage to show what they had to offer as an up and coming band. Closing out their set with a cover of Type O Negative’s “I Don’t Wanna Be Me” left no question as to where Split Chain draws much of their inspiration. 

Fifteen years ago, Four Year Strong were at the top of the easycore scene. Even though those years are getting further and further away, Four Year Strong has not slowed down one bit. While many bands stray far from their original sound as time goes on, the happy hardcore sounds are still all over Four Year Strong’s entire catalog. Starting off their set with “uncooked” from their most recent album felt right at home amongst their iconic songs like “It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now” and “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die” They had the crowd bursting with energy from the first note all the way to the final chords of “Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)”. 

The main event, The Devil Wears Prada. These guys have been heavyweights amongst their peers from the beginning, and that reputation has yet to wane. Fresh off the release of their newest album Flowers, The Devil Wears Prada have been hitting the road hard. Their set featured heavily from Flowers, but there was still plenty of time to honor their vast discography. Nearly everything from Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord to Color Decay was included.

The highlight for me was hearing “Outnumbered” from the Zombie EP. The heaviness of that song live cannot be overstated. The packed crowd at The Sylvee was in the band’s palm the entire night. After capping off what would already be a great set, they came out to close out the night with the trifecta of “Play The Old Shit”, “Assistant to the Regional Manager”, and “Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?”.

While their sound has evolved over the span of their career, it is clear that The Devil Wears Prada has not forgotten where they came from. Even if it is a school night, you shouldn’t pass up seeing these legends.    

Split Chain :

Four Year Strong :

The Devil Wears Prada :

Post-hardcore band Mclusky packed out Metro on April 4, delivering a set that felt like a full-circle celebration of their catalog. Running through 20+ tracks, the band pulled from across their discography—mclusky Do Dallas, The Difference Between Me and You Is That I’m Not on Fire, the world is still here and so are we, and more—giving longtime fans exactly what they came for.

The crowd in Chicago reflected that legacy, with a wide mix of ages that spoke to the band’s staying power since the ’90s. It felt like a room that had been waiting a long time for this moment, and the energy backed that up all night.

If you’re into loud, high-energy shows that don’t let up, Mclusky’s current U.S. run is worth catching. The tour continues through mid-April with stops in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Mclusky :

Max Styler took the stage on March 7th at Radius Chicago. It was fitting for the birthplace of house music to welcome an artist like Max to town, delivering an open-to-close set and blessing the audience with a consistent rhythm throughout the entire night. As the evening kicked off, fans flooded into the venue one after another. The night began with a loose, laid-back tone—perfect energy to tease what was still to come.

About every 30 minutes into the show, you could feel the energy building—not just from the crowd, but from the music itself. As the night progressed, the bass seemed to hit harder and harder. Before long, the sea of people that had formed on the dance floor was moving in unison, dancing to the pulse of the music.

As the sound intensified, so did the production. Radius really showcased all the bells and whistles during the peak moments of the show, with smoke machines, lighting, and lasers fully in effect.

When the first wave of lasers lit up the room, a roar erupted from the crowd, and from that moment on the expectations for the night were clearly met. Max’s music selection and flawless weaving from one track to the next kept the momentum going from start to finish. Fans looking for a classic night of house music were treated to an exceptional experience—one that many will likely be romanticizing for a long time.

The Alienation Tour is one that came up on my radar last minute, but I’m glad it did. One-X was one of the first albums I had on CD that introduced me to a catalog of 2000s rock that we all know and love. Three Days Grace is one of those staples you can’t deny as a pillar of what rock music was in the early 2000s. I was excited to see how they’ve aged, and how they hold up with newer bands like I Prevail and The Funeral Portrait.

The Funeral Portrait came out with a sound that said “we’re here and we’re serious.” Tracks like “Suffocate City” and “Stay Weird” really showed their personable nature and effort to connect with the fans. Lee Jennings sounded great and shows his experience and drive as a frontman in every song. You can tell the guys in the band really do get along and that makes the show that much better. They also worked in songs like “Blood Mother” and “Generation Psycho,” keeping the energy consistent. They’re one of the more promising newer bands in the scene and I’m glad I caught them on this tour.

By the time I Prevail hit, the energy had shifted. This was almost a hometown show for them, with members having cut their teeth in Grand Rapids or across Michigan, making it that much more engaging for them to be direct support on an arena tour. Their set leaned into the heavier end of their catalog with songs like “Bow Down,” “Self-Destruction,” “Violent Nature,” “Into Hell,” and “Bad Things.” They also ran through “Hurricane” and “Gasoline,” which kept the arena moving. What was noticeable was how they handled the post-lead-singer era, seemingly coming out stronger than ever. Dylan’s clean vocals on songs that used to sound one way now have this rawness live. The cover of Metallica’s “Sad but True” was a great addition and they killed it. These guys aren’t slowing down any time soon.

Three Days Grace connected new and old fans. Singer Adam Gontier looked energetic and ready after joining the band again in 2024. The dynamic between him and co-vocalist Matt Walst is great and something that feels rare in heavier music. These two did each other justice and sounded great, adding layers to older songs that couldn’t be done with just one vocalist. They ran through staples like “Animal I Have Become,” “Break,” and “I Hate Everything About You,” along with “Pain” and “Never Too Late.” They also pulled a few tracks from their new album Alienation into the set, and those songs didn’t feel out of place next to the classics. To see this band still packing arenas and embracing a new dynamic makes me excited to see what they do in the future.

Their new album Alienation, featuring both Adam Gontier and Matt Walst as vocalists, is out now.

House of Blues

Boston, MA

Saturday January 17th, 2026

State Champs celebrated ten years of “Around the World and Back” on a cold, windy night in Boston. Accompanied by Broadside, Real Friends, and Cartel, the New York based pop punk pioneers brought the energy. The crowd, myself included, was eager to hear songs that had not been played live in years.

Broadside started the show off strong, playing through their catalog that spans over a decade long. Playing classics like “Coffee Talk” and newer tracks off their upcoming album “Nowhere, At Last,” there was something for everyone. 

Real Friends were up next. I was especially excited for this band as I listened to them a lot back in high school. They still bring the same energy they did ten years ago. Along with their old school tracks like “I’ve Given Up On You,” their new stuff goes hard too; “Waiting Room” off of their newest record “Blue Hour” was a highlight in the setlist. Their lead singer Cody jumped into the crowd for multiple songs which pumped the fans up even more. 

Cartel played their hearts out and had the crowd jumping throughout their set. With their immense energy, you never would have known this band released their first album back in 2005. Playing classics like “Say Anything (Else)” and “Honestly,” they gave the fans exactly what they wanted.

The time had come. State Champs took the stage and the crowd erupted. They played “Around the World and Back” in full for the first time ever. It was crazy to see the deep cuts played live, along with staples like “Secrets” and “All You Are Is History.” My personal favorites were toward the end of their first set. I never thought I’d hear “Tooth and Nail” and “Slow Burn” live. After playing the record in full, they played eight more hits right after, including fan favorites like “Common Sense” and “Elevated.” The band played for close to an hour and half and put on the performance of a lifetime for this Boston crowd. Fans could be spotted moshing, crowd surfing, and jumping around as the band played hit after hit. 

All of the bands on the ticket put on one heck of a show. It was a great night to listen to pop punk in New England.