You know it’s going to be a good night when the openers come out swinging…and MISSIO did exactly that. Hailing from Austin, Texas, they hit the stage like a gut punch, delivering a tight 30-minute set that wasted zero time. Their sound was gritty, electronic, and dripping with emotion which was exactly as expected: loud, clean, and completely immersive. Even in a short set, they managed to pull the crowd into their dark pop universe, where heavy beats and haunting melodies collided. It’s wild how just two guys…Matthew Brue and David Butler…can build that much atmosphere, but MISSIO has always had a knack for making minimal feel massive. From the first bass drop to the last lingering synth, the set was a reminder of why they’ve carved out such a loyal following in fans.
Badflower took the stage next, and I swear the entire crowd collectively forgot how to breathe. I went in not knowing much about them…and left absolutely wrecked in the best way. They launched straight into “Stalker,” setting the tone with this raw, punk-charged energy that never let up. Red beams of light cut through the haze like warning signals, matching the band’s intensity beat for beat. Their nine-song set felt like a full-body experience, shifting from heavy hitters like “Ghost” and “P.A.W.S.” to emotional gut-punches like “Move Me,” all the way to the lovely chaos of “Detroit.” Every moment was unfiltered, loud, and locked in…the kind of set that grabs you by the collar and makes you pay attention. Consider me fully converted.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for…311. Still rolling deep with their original lineup, they took the stage with the kind of seasoned presence that only comes from decades of doing the damn thing right. They opened with “Beautiful Disaster,” “Large in the Margin,” and “Come Original,” and immediately had the entire venue on its feet. I’ve never heard that many people sing along at once within a crowd…it was like the entire venue became part of the band. Their 22-song set was a masterclass in stagecraft, weaving in fan favorites like “Amber,” “All Mixed Up,” “Full Bloom,” and “Sick Tight,” before wrapping the night in a haze of stoked energy with encores “Tranquility” and “Down.” The lighting was next-level, perfectly synced to every beat, riff, and vibe. You could smell the weed in the air (naturally), but it only added to the laid-back, euphoric energy radiating from the stage. Everyone was vibing…lifelong fans, first-timers, even kids bouncing along in the mix. Easily one of the best sets I’ve seen all year… and trust me, I’ve seen a lot.
Missio
Badflower
311
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