LadyLand Festival @ Under the K Bridge - New York
June 27th 2025: LadyLand Festival @ Under the K Bridge - New York, NY
FKA Twigs | Photos Courtesy of: Em Yu
Ladyland Festival 2025 was an electrifying celebration of queer humans, non-binary, and trans artists in the heart of the music scene. The event featured an eclectic lineup spanning various genres, from indie and pop to electronic and punk, showcasing the immense talent of LGBTQ+ creators. Night 1 was headlined by rap icon Cardi B, and night 2 was headlined by the captivating FKA Twigs.
Both nights provided a safe space for all identities and were filled with vibrant outfits from the crowd. Founder of the festival and nightlife icon Ladyfag stepped up before both headliner performances to give a rousing speech about fascism the first night, and then reading the poem "I want a dyke for president" by Zoe Leonard for the second night. It felt like a truly healing experience that was all encompassing of the energy of the entire festival. Both nights included some amazing drag performances, live performances, and DJ sets, notably from Chase Icon, RPDR winner Symone, Japanese girl group f5ve, Lushious Massacr, Sukihana, Pabllo Vittar, vtss and ended with an overall final crescendo with FKA Twigs and her fantastically abstract performance showcasing her album Eusexua.
Alex Chapman, Chase Icon, f5ve, Lushious Massacr, Sukihana, Symone, Pabllo Vittar, vtss
Lucy Dacus @ Le Trianon - Paris
June 25th 2025: Lucy Dacus, Jasmine.4.T @ Le Trianon - Paris, France
Lucy Dacus | Photos Courtesy of: Manon Pothin
Just over three months after her intimate concert in church Saint-Eustache, Lucy Dacus was back in Paris on June 25th. This time, accompanied by a full band, the singer brought her Forever Is a Feeling tour to France and performed her latest album to yet another sold-out venue.
Despite the heatwave, the energy was not missing and fans were singing along to every word, rainbow flags and fans in full display. The date also marked the fourth anniversary of Lucy Dacus’s album “Home Video”, which the crowd celebrated by singing Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday in French) before having the singer perform songs off it like Cartwheel and Going Going Gone.
Jasmine.4.t was the concert opener, and it’s safe to say she gained new fans that night.
Jasmine.4.T
Simple Minds @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia
June 14th 2025: Simple Minds, Soft Cell, Modern English @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia, PA
Simple Minds - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Simple Minds brought their “Alive and Kicking Tour” to Philadelphia on June 14th, 2025. The weather could not have been more perfect as the bands took the stage in the outdoor amphitheatre at The Mann Center. To round out the 80s synth rock revival tour, Simple Minds was joined by Soft Cell and Modern English.
The seasoned bands took the stage, being sure to connect with their lively fans. Modern English opened with spirited renditions of “I Melt With You”, delivering a nostalgic, enthusiastic set that warmed up the crowd. Soft Cell followed, offering a sleek synth-pop set including their hit cover “Tainted Love” and other hits like “Memorabilia.” You could tell everyone was out to have a fun time.
Simple Minds proved why, after 40 years, they continue to fill amphitheatres around the world. Under starlit skies at the Mann, they honoured their legacy—melding old favourites with thoughtful newer material—while showing that their passion remains alive and kicking. Whether you came for the hits or the deeper cuts, this Night with Simple Minds was a resounding triumph.
Soft Cell
Modern English
Yoke Lore @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
June 8th 2025: Yoke Lore @ The Fillmore- Philadelphia, PA
Yoke Lore - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Adrian (aka Yoke Lore) took the stage in Philadelphia on June 8th 2025, opening for Jack’s Mannequin. With newer material shining alongside older favorites, Yoke Lore proved that he can translate deeply personal songwriting into an expansive, communal live experience.
Setlist
Cruciform I
Softy
Chin Up
Shake
Hallucinate
Goodpain
Winona
Beige
Pierce The Veil @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheater - Chicago
June 7th 2025: Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheater - Tinley Park, Illinois
Pierce the Veil | Photos Courtesy of: Amanda Huerta
Pierce The Veil is forever.
The first time I ever got to see Pierce the Veil live was at the Vans Warped Tour in Chicago in 2010. I’ve had the privilege of going to almost every single show they’ve ever had in Illinois since then, and 15 years later, they STILL make me feel like I did that very first time. I was a teenager at the time and had to beg my mom to take me to the show. She finally caved and let me go as long as my cousin came with me. I remember screaming the lyrics so loud that my throat hurt the next day, and taking tons of photos on my BlackBerry, which sparked my love for concert photography. I have so many other fond memories over the years regarding this band. I used to sit at my family computer until the music video for “Caraphernelia” was released in 2010, and again for “King For A Day” in 2012. Years later, I still wait for every music video premiere, but now I can watch from my phone. It’s honestly insane to see a band graduate from playing smaller iconic venues like Bottom Lounge, to now having their headlining tour and selling out a show at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre with 26,000+ people.
Opening the show was Beach Weather, this is not a band I would expect to be on the lineup but I was happily surprised to see their name on the flyer as I’ve been a fan since 2016 when they released the Chit Chat and What A Drag EP’s. Their overall sound just exudes summer vibes, slight angst, and romance, it was the perfect way to kick off the show.
Sleeping With Sirens. Wow. They’ve toured with Pierce The Veil previously but not to the same magnitude that the I Can't Hear You Tour is. If you want to see a high energy band- this is the one! I was trying to keep up with all the movement happening on stage, not wanting to miss a second of it. As a band that has been touring for 15+ years you can immediately tell that they still give it their all and make sure that every person in the crowd is having the time of their life. The band even played “Scene Two: Roger Rabbit” at the request of a fan, a song that has not been in their setlist for this tour. Their overall set was the perfect balance of old and new which included hits ranging from “If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn” and “Bloody Knuckles.”
The moment we were all waiting for was finally here. Pierce The Veil made their way to the stage while “El Rey,” a cover by Vicente Fernández, played. Banners with symbols representing all 5 of their albums shot down from the ceiling and the entire crowd exploded. The first song in their incredible setlist was Death Of An Executioner, which is a personal favorite of mine off their most recent album The Jaws Of Life. When this tour was announced, most of us fans expected this to be an “eras” type tour, and they absolutely delivered. The setlist was sprinkled with classics from A Flair For The Dramatic like “Yeah Boy And Dollface,” “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” and even “Wonderless.” I never thought I’d get to hear songs off that album performed again so these really hit me in the heart and brought on tears of joy. I do wish there were a few more deep cuts played from Selfish Machines, but that’s okay because Disasterology was included in their encore and it was EVERYTHING. The band confirmed that not only was this the biggest show of the tour, but it was also the biggest single show in their career. I can’t believe how they managed to make a show of 28,000 people feel as intimate as their few hundred capacity shows in Chicago all those years ago. Halfway through the set, rain started falling and no one seemed to mind one bit, everyone was still screaming from the top of their lungs, dancing, and there were even pits happening on the lawn. The final song of their 3-song-encore was none other than “King For A Day,” as soon as the song began it was pure insanity, and even more so when Kellin Quinn was brought back on stage. This song means the world to many fans, it was apparent that they all went somewhere mentally during this final song, and erupting in the crowd. Pierce The Veil cares so much about their fans, the show experience, and their music. Maybe I’m a little biased as a long-time fan, but it seems impossible to dislike such a talented group of people. Thank you Pierce The Veil for this show, and everything you’ve ever done for all of us.
Catch them at their remaining U.S. Dates:
6.17.25 – Isleta Amphitheatre – Albuquerque, NM
6.19.25 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
6.20.25 – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, UT
6.22.25 – WAMU Theatre – Seattle, WA
6.23.25 – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA
6.25.25 – Toyota Pavilion at Concord – Concord, CA
6.27.25 – The Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
6.29.25 – PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
Sleeping with Sirens
Saint Motel @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago
May 10th 2025: Saint Motel, Brigitte Calls Me Baby @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
Saint Motel | Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Saturday May 10th 2025, Saint Motel brought their Symphony In The Sky tour to a sold out Riviera Theatre with opening act Brigitte Calls Me Baby. This tour follows the February release of their latest album Saint Motel & the Symphony in the Sky.
Chicago-based indie rock newcomers Brigitte Calls Me Baby opened the show with a set full of 80s rock-inspired vocals and shimmery guitars. Their energy was a great start to the evening and got fans pumped for the show.
Saint Motel started off their set with lead singer AJ Jackson conducting the "symphony" of Saint Motel, which consisted of a digitally projected strings section, in addition to their usual band of members Aaron Sharp (guitar), Dak Lerdamornpong (bass), Greg Erwin (drums), as well as a touring saxophonist and trumpeter. The set then began with "Puzzle Pieces," a high-energy, danceable hit from the band's 2012 album Voyeur, which got the crowd moving and excited for the rest of the night. Whether it was by clapping along to a beat, saying a word altogether on cue for "Move," or waving a wand/flashlight in different directions during "It's All Happening" etc., Saint Motel kept the audience engaged while playing songs from most of their previous releases. It seemed as though Saint Motel were enjoying the night as well. They recounted previous Chicago shows and mentioned that this was their "craziest" Chicago show yet before playing "Fine Wine." The momentum of the show kept building and was full of surprises — one of them being AJ emerging from the balcony for the encore to perform "A Bluer Blue" then returning to the stage, only to come back out into the crowd several songs later during an explosive performance of "My Type."
As a long-time listener of the band, I have to say, Saint Motel's incredible attention to detail when it comes to taking the theme of their album and translating it into a live production is truly something to admire. The band's outfits, grand piano on stage, sheet music stands, star-like LED lights, merch and so on matched the Symphony in the Sky theme perfectly. Their fun vibes were enjoyed by an audience of all ages, who I'm sure, will return to see them the next time they are in town. Saint Motel's first leg of this tour just ended but be sure to catch them on the other leg in the Fall!
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Denzel Curry @ Crystal Ballroom - Portland
May 4th 2025: Denzel Curry, Kenny Mason, 454, CLIP @ Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
Denzel Curry | Photos Courtesy of: Christina Hall
Denzel Curry stopped in Portland for his Mischievous South Tour. He brought along CLIP, 454, and Kenny Mason. The theme for the evening seemed to be opening the circle up.
CLIP had a chaotic start, bringing a fan onto the stage to open the pit. There was some confusion about where they should go, but Clip’s playful innocence made it all okay for the rest of her set. Her set had heavy beats that truly fired the crowd up. 454 came on not too long after with Ateleye Marc on the boards. A breeze could be felt from the subwoofers, and 454 rattled off his higher-pitched and polished riffs. Kenny Mason finished out the support with three rules: to pick someone up if they fall, keep your hands to yourself, and open the pit wide. His angsty sound was complemented with a light autotune. The crowd was jumping and had the highest energy yet for the night when Stick came on.
Denzel Curry came onto the stage as if he were shot out of a cannon. The energy was at a 10, and he somehow kept his cool with a winter jacket on for the first part of his set. His set had a cadence that felt like playing homage to Three Six Mafia. His sound had elements of old rap but with a refreshing and head-banging take. It made it easy to bob your head, and there were many tracks that you could chant along with. G’z up got a big crowd reaction. Security could be seen attempting to hold the barricades up as Denzel never let off the gas, and it was a cathartic release of whatever the crowd was holding on to that night.
Kenny Mason, 454, CLIP
Djo @ Franklin Music Hall - Philadelphia
May 3rd 2025: Djo, Post Animal @ Franklin Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA
Djo - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Since 2019, Joe Keery has been releasing music under Djo. In 2025, three albums later, he’s travelling the world for the first time on a sold-out tour. Djo is joined by his former bandmates and friends, Post Animal. It’s heartwarming to see the friendship and support shared between both bands throughout sets. Joe joined Post Animal for their last three songs of their set. Meanwhile, several members of Post Animal can be found playing alongside Joe’s set. To continue the camaraderie, Post Animal recently announced their next album, Iron, which was written in collaboration with Joe.
The setlist for the night consisted of a mix of songs from Djo’s catalogue. I shared in the excitement of the crowd with finally getting to see Djo’s live set after six long years. Needless to say, Joe Keery is keeping busy and can’t wait to see where the future takes him.
Setlist
Runner
Gloom
Link
Charlie's Garden
Basic Being Basic
Fool
Figure You Out
Egg
Fly
Delete Ya
Lonesome Is a State of Mind
Chateau (Feel Alright)
Roddy
End of Beginning
Gap Tooth Smile
Potion
Encore:
Back on You
Flash Mountain (with Post Animal)
Post Animal
