I pulled into the Emo's parking lot around 4 p.m., not knowing I was about to watch one of the most genuinely fun shows I've covered all year. The line wrapped halfway around the building probably should have been my first clue.
It was a crispy 95F in Austin on August 31st, and not a single person in that line looked like they were reconsidering their life choices. Black Veil Brides fans are built different; that much was clear before the doors even opened at 5:30 p.m.
Meet Holy Wars. You're Going To Want To Remember This Name.
Holy Wars tore open the stage at 6:30 p.m. and threw us headfirst into the chaos of the night. Fronted by the fiery powerhouse that is Kat Leon, the Los Angeles-based outfit blends especially gritty guitar work, industrial melodies, and modern rock smoothness into a hypnotizing spell that hits you in the deepest parts of your chest. Their sound has been described as a punch to the face (that you're thankful for) – powerful, expressive, and completely at home in front of the crowd there at Emo's.
The push and pull between her guttural screams and clean melodies gave the set a full-bodied intensity that had me (and the rest of the room) screaming along right beside her. They ran through "I Feel Everything," "Kill the Lights," "Proof of Existence," and a handful of other songs that really hit you with the conviction cranked on high. This is a band that has clearly earned every inch of the space they're taking up right now, and watching them win over the Austin music scene was incredible to see.
What truly stuck with me just as much as the music was what happened after the show. Holy Wars stayed the entire night, hanging out by their merch table, making time for every single fan who lined up to see them. They gladly took photos, signed whatever you wanted, and struck up heartfelt, genuine conversations – no rushing, no brushing people off, nada. You could feel how much they cared about their community and the people showing up for them, and that kind of authenticity is worth taking notice of.
I'm hoping to sit down with them soon and chat more about their work. I can't wait to attend their next headlining tour – I need y'all to be right there with me.
Find them on socials here: Instagram | Tickets to their Tour
Holy Wars at Emo's, photos by Rorrie Salazar | @ror.rie
Let's Talk About Archers
Hitting up the stage at 7:20 on the dot was the Wisconsin four-piece, Archers. Their build-up was honest to Gerard, my favorite build-up out of any show I've ever been to.
Before they even walked out, the speakers cut and kicked out "Lips of an Angel" by Hinder as their walk-on anthem! Shamelessly, I sang along as I tinkered around with my cameras, watching as the crowd did the same. That song is a classic, and I will personally die on this hill. At the end of the day, we're all 40-year-old divorced dads just trying to get by in this world. The build-up worked exactly as intended, and by the time Archers actually hit the stage, the crowd had been primed and was ready to go.
Vocalist Nathanael Pulley, guitarist Ben Koehler, bassist and vocalist Oscar Porter, and drummer Grayson Mesarosh have been one of the more quietly exciting acts to watch in the metalcore-adjacent space since forming in 2015. Their 2025 EP "Temporary High," produced with Matt Good (Hollywood Undead, Sleeping With Sirens), spawned "Never Enough" and "Better Off," and we even got treated to a performance of "Bitter," which has almost cleared about ten million streams. They're now signed to Fearless Records, with brand-new music in the works. The momentum is real, and it showed in every second of their set.
They ran through various songs, such as "Made For Love," "Drag Me Out," "Get Paid," and "Say This Sober" to a crowd that was fully in tune with them the whole way. Nathanael commands a room with a warmth that comes right through those speakers on the stage and directly into the audience, and the set kept building without ever feeling forced.
Archers are on an upward swing, and the ceiling is nowhere in sight. If they're coming through your city, I HIGHLY recommend you get there early and have the time of your life.
Check 'em out here: Instagram | Tickets to a Show
Archers at Emo's, photos by Rorrie Salazar | @ror.rie
Caskets Brought The Love and Some Cake Too
Caskets were on stage by 8:15 p.m., and after being lucky enough to catch their set at Warped Tour Long Beach earlier this summer, getting to shoot them again felt like a treat I couldn't resist!
The Leeds-based post-hardcore assembly consists of vocalist Matthew Flood, lead guitarist Benjamin Wilson, amazingly sweet rhythm guitarist Craig Robinson, and drummer James Lazenby, and they've been on a serious win streak in 2026. "The Only Heaven You'll Know" has cemented them as a genuinely strong force in the post-hardcore space, and their live shows reflect every bit of their growth. They moved through "Guiding Light," "Hate Me," "Martyr," and "Lost in Echoes" (a personal favorite of the night) with such warmth that it was a little hard to remember you were standing next to some grown men body-slamming each other. Their setlist this tour pulled from across their colorful career and felt insanely intentional... it was as if they felt the heart of their crowd and arranged their songs to the beat.
Matthew Flood on stage is something you need to witness for yourself. He carries an emotional weight that translates across venues no matter the size, and the band around him plays with precision and grace that never disappoints you. It's tight, but it breathes, y'know; it's balanced and powerful, which can be a really hard thing to achieve.
My favorite moment came mid-set when the band brought out their beloved tour photographer, Rickelle, to celebrate her birthday with us all. They brought out the cutest cake and sang to her, and honestly, you could truly see how much they cherished her. The band genuinely looked happy to celebrate her, and it felt like a small, unscripted moment that reminded you why a live show creates memories that stick around long after the setlist fades.
Caskets are deep in a massive touring run, and they ain't showing NO signs of slowing down. If ya haven't caught them yet, what the heck are you waiting for?
Look 'em up here: Instagram | Tickets to their Tour Dates
Caskets at Emo's, photos by Rorrie Salazar | @ror.rie
Black Veil Brides is Part Concert, Part Comedy Tour
You know, I've been a fan of Black Veil Brides since those awkward days of middle school, and standing in that jam-packed room shoulder to shoulder with their community, I felt a sense of belonging (slathered in black-and-white makeup).
I admit, I walked in here blind. I always knew that Andy Biersack was one of the metal scene's fastest wits and best stage presences, but I don't know why I didn't anticipate that he'd be bringing his interview-roast energy to the stage. I was somehow not prepared for the comedy show that came packaged between songs, and I need more shows like this! Andy never missed a beat; his timing was impeccable, and he worked that crowd with the kind of effortless control that only comes from someone who has never once doubted that this is exactly where he and the Brides belong.
In case you didn't know, Black Veil Brides is made up of Andy Biersack (comedy/vocals), Jake Pitts and Jinxx (the bold guitars), Lonny Eagleton (bass), and Christian "CC" Coma on the drums. We opened the night with "Knives and Pens," and from there, the night became something that is honestly a little hard for me to describe. Their seventh studio album, "Vindicate," released earlier this year in May, gave the night's setlist its spine. The crowd screamed along to songs such as "Bleeders," "Hallelujah," "Vindicate," and "Certainty," bold and true to the lyrics memorized in their hearts. A few times during "Vindicate," I leaned against the barricade to get wider shots of the band (Andy is REALLY damn tall, dude), and the crowd was so hyped they were leaning as far as they could forward, surging and singing in unison, forcing me to take a step back and just stare in amazement. This is a band with a die-hard fanbase that will throw their ALL into singing along. You cannot manufacture that love by any means.
As I said, between songs Andy did what he clearly does best – moving between music and crowd interaction with an ease that most performers spend their entire careers chasing. He told stories about reluctantly giving up his favorite hat to a drunk man in a hotel (which was a damn good marketing technique, 'cause I almost bought a hat from their lovely merch booth), about the 2020s pandemic and its effect on the band. He reminded us OGs about his infamous skincare routine (slather a buncha BBQ on your face nightly), laughed at some really questionable signs written by fans, and delivered that world-famous, straight-faced roasting that we keep coming back for. He acknowledged the guy who lost his job to be at the show (an insurance agent, RIP; hope you find a new job soon, bud) and made us all feel like we were right where we were supposed to be.
At one point, some kid scrambles up on stage to deliver the speech of his life – you know the one – word for word, bar for bar, the Revolver Golden Gods awards acceptance speech. We all lost our minds laughing together, and I will say Andy looked on like a proud dad. Afterward, Andy called out something that so many of us had been carrying. He thanked us all for being fans despite being bullied for it for years, for loving the makeup and the gothic, studded imagery, for celebrating the music that wasn't considered cool back then. Looking around the tightly packed room, you'd never have convinced teenage me that this would happen, that I'd be in a nearly sold-out venue standing alongside fans dressed in leather pants, slathered in glam makeup inspired by the band. Black Veil Brides have won over so many generations with their raw talent and impeccable stage presence. It wasn't a heavy or sad moment, oh no, Andy didn't let it be. It was an acknowledgment of love and community, and it felt realer than the heat of the sun.
By the time "In The End" closed out the night, the crowd was running off pure joy and adrenaline. No one wanted to leave. I completely get it; I didn't wanna either, and I understand why all those people braved the 95F blazing sun earlier for the chance to barricade with the Brides.
Here's where to find 'em: Instagram | Tour Dates
Black Veil Brides at Emo's, photos by Rorrie Salazar | @ror.rie
Final Thoughts, My Brides
What stuck with me the most, walking outta Emo's that night, wasn't any single moment or song, but the thread that ran through the entire evening. Holy Wars stayed after their set and spent the rest of the night with their fans (both new and old). They didn't have to, but they WANTED to, and that's what it means to build something meaningful. Every photo, every conversation, every signed item was a brick in the foundation they're actively laying. Standing in that line to meet and greet them, I could just see how much these small moments meant to both sides of the coin. Kat and her crew had such a way of disarming that anxiety of first meetings, and they all made you feel special and never rushed you, not even once. They listened to every word you said to them and gave hugs, encouragement, whatever was needed.
With Black Veil Brides, the love of their community through the years has kept their music fresh and explosive. They've evolved and grown in their sound alongside the community they've built in each generation. A room full of people who had spent years of their lives loving this band, some loudly and some quietly, were all together in the same place, screaming all the words right back at the same stage. That's not just a simple concert. That's a thriving community that built itself around music that made people feel less alone, less pained, and showed up every single time these bands play.
That's what live music does that nothing else can. It doesn't matter if you're a band playing your seventh show or your seven hundredth – the room full of people who came out for you is the whole point. They share something that exists only in that space and time for that moment, on that night, and carry it with them when they leave back to their homes.
August 31st at Emo's was one of those nights. Go find the next one.
