Buzzfest 2025: Loud, Hot, and Unforgettable

After skipping a year, Buzzfest came back swinging Saturday May 24th, and Houston showed up ready. Held at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and hosted by 94.5 The Buzz, the highly anticipated return drew a sold-out crowd of 16,000 sweaty, sunburned, and hyped-up humans. The energy was explosive from the first note to the final scream, with a ‘Buzz’ stacked lineup that included Chevelle, Marilyn Manson, Blue October, P.O.D., Stabbing Westward, Evans Blue, and Sleep Theory…plus a strong hometown kick off by Houston-based rockers Kenton Place.

For me, Buzzfest is more than just another show to shoot. I used to go as a teenager with my dad, deep in the lawn, screaming lyrics and soaking in the chaos. Now, as a photographer, this was my fourth time covering the festival professionally, and honestly… I’m still geeking out like it’s my first. It’s wild to witness the evolution…from being in the crowd to being in the photo pit…but one thing hasn’t changed: Buzzfest still hits like a freight train.

Kenton Place, repping their hometown of Houston, had the honor of kicking off the day..and they didn’t waste a second of it. Fresh off their win in the opening band contest, the energy they brought was electric. The lead singer was everywhere…bouncing around the stage, grinning nonstop, clearly soaking in every moment like a dream come true. It set the tone perfectly for what would be an all-out marathon of rock. Up next was Stabbing Westward, delivering their signature goth-tinged industrial sound with a moody, magnetic presence. There was a brief mic hiccup during their first song, but once that got sorted, they absolutely locked in. I’d never seen them live before, and they did not disappoint. From the haunting cover of The Cure’s “Burn” to fan favorites like “Shame,” “What Do I Have to Do,” and “Save Yourself,” their set was a dark, beautiful burst of nostalgia…and the perfect launchpad for the pure chaos that followed.

Sleep Theory was up next, and I’ll be honest…I’d never heard of them before this set. But after seeing them live, I won’t be forgetting them anytime soon. Their post-hardcore sound hit hard, but it was the way they owned that stage that really stood out. Engaging with the crowd, pouring raw emotion into every song…they weren’t just playing music, they were showcasing their art, and it connected. The fans ate it up, and I guarantee they left with a whole wave of new listeners. They’re clearly on the rise, and this set only added fuel to that fire. Songs like “Fallout,” “Paralyzed,” “Stuck in My Head,” and “Numb” had the pit moving and the crowd locked in from start to finish.

Then came a full-circle moment for me…Evans Blue. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, and I remember seeing them at Buzzfest back in the day. Now, here I was again, only this time with a camera in one hand and my heart bursting out of my chest. They played “This Time It’s Different,” “Say It,” and “Erase My Scars,” and every note hit deep. At one point, vocalist Dan Chandler caught me screaming the lyrics while shooting…he smiled, reached down, grabbed my hand as I kept snapping away with the other. It was one of those surreal moments where past and present collide, and some of my favorite shots from the day came out of that moment. I honestly can’t rave about this band enough…they still know how to kick ass live, and they’ve never lost their spark.

Next up were the icons themselves…P.O.D., and let me tell you, they did not ease into their set. Frontman Sonny Sandoval came out swinging…literally jumping across the stage, never standing still for more than a second. I’ve genuinely never seen that much energy from one person before. The mic cord was flying, the crowd was wild, and I swear I got whiplash just watching him. Out of the entire day, this set was hands down my favorite. Their sound was tight, powerful, and every track hit just as hard as it did back in the day. When they launched into “Youth of the Nation,” I was instantly transported…flashbacks to hearing it in elementary school, now seeing it live right in front of me. It was surreal. They also played “Alive” and “Boom,” both still bangers, and their connection with the audience was unmatched. I’m still reeling from how good they were. Pure adrenaline and nostalgia in one unforgettable performance.

After the high-energy storm of P.O.D., Blue October brought the mood to a deep, emotional simmer. The stage was washed in blue light, setting the tone for what always feels like a spiritual experience with this band. As a longtime fan and the fact i’ve covered them before, I still walk away blown away every single time. Justin Furstenfeld is a master of emotional delivery…his clean vocals, his screams, the vulnerability in his lyrics… it’s all so raw and real. Watching him pour his heart out live is a thing of beauty. At one point, I noticed his kids watching from the side of the stage, smiling as they watched their dad perform. It was honestly the sweetest moment. Justin’s journey, his growth, and his continued sobriety are incredibly inspiring, and it’s clear he’s still living with purpose and passion. They played hits like “Hate Me,” “Say It,” and “I Hope You’re Happy”, each one hitting with waves of emotion that rippled through the entire crowd.

Next up was the one and only Marilyn Manson, which honestly surprised me as I expected him to close out the fest. But the moment he hit the stage, it was clear why he still draws the biggest crowd. Everywhere I looked, it was a sea of Manson tees…some fans even went all out and cosplayed his early-era looks, which was just so fun to witness. Manson is back, and truly, better than ever. Sobriety looks good on him…the clarity, the energy, the presence he brought to that stage was electric. His signature raspy vocals, gothic visuals, and unapologetic aesthetic were all intact, complete with that towering glowing cross behind him. It was everything you’d hope for from a Manson set. Fans sang along to every word, screaming out tracks like “Nod If You Understand,” “This Is the New Shit,” “Long Hard Road Out of Hell,” and of course, the anthem that shook the Pavilion…“The Beautiful People.” It was a full-blown experience, not just a performance… and i was loving every minute of it. See photos I took for the pavilion HERE.

And then came the grand finale: Chevelle. A band that’s always held a special place in my heart, and one I’ve seen light up the Buzzfest stage more than once over the years. Funny how some things never change…including just how tight and consistent their sound is. From the moment they stepped out, it was jam after jam, with one of the boldest and most vibrant stage setups of the entire day. Vocalist Pete Loeffler stalked the stage between vocals, his screams slicing through the humid night air while the crowd lost their minds. You could feel the entire Pavilion shaking as fans roared along to tracks like “Face to the Floor,” “Send the Pain Below,” “The Red,” and “I Get It.” It was the perfect way to end a stacked, unforgettable day of music.

As I packed up my gear and let it all soak in, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful. Buzzfest has been a part of my life for so long…first as a fan with my dad, now as a photographer capturing the chaos…and I still have moments where I can’t believe this is my life. Buzzfest 2025 reminded me exactly why I keep coming back: loud music, sweaty crowds, pure nostalgia, and that unmatched Houston energy. This festival never fails to blow my mind, and it remains one of the best things our city has to look forward to every year.