American pop-punk band Cartel formed out of pure angst back in 2003. Following their hit album, “Chroma,” which released in 2005, they have sustained a fanbase that loves through everything, even hiatus. In 2022, they returned with new singles, “17” and “The End,” receiving love from fellow occult bands joining them on tours, such as Dashboard Confessional and Hawthorne Heights. Cartel features current members Will Pugh (vocals, guitar), Joseph Pepper (lead guitar), Nic Hudson (rhythm guitar), and Kevin Sanders (drums).
As “Chroma” approached its 20-year anniversary, the band was ready for its magnum opus of a tour. On the 27th of September, this tour stopped at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The first opener of the night was Macseal, whose bright vocals and fun, laid-back stage presence earned them a certified stamp of approval from the crowd. My favorite part about their performance was that you could truly tell that they loved what they were doing. They hopped on this tour for just a few nights, until October 15, before they go off on another run with label-mates Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Bay Fiction, Sports., Anorak!, and Yawners. The mix of US and International acts on the bill will certainly make for an interesting show stacked full of new material. Get tickets here!
Keep up with Macseal:
Instagram / Facebook / Spotify
Next up was the direct support for the entire tour, HUNNY. Known for fuzzy guitars and distortion pedals, HUNNY lit up the room. His most recent album released just the day before, on the 26th of September, “SPIRIT!” made its way into the world. Produced by Kevin Grimmett, current Wallows touring guitarist, the album is mostly a solo project for frontman Jason Yarger. In usual HUNNY fashion, his setlist contained classic songs “Televised,” “Halloween,” and “Vowels.” His stage presence is fun, upbeat and definitely got everyone in the room on their feet and ready for the main act.
The future is surely bright for HUNNY after the release of “SPIRIT!” By watching his band’s performance, their tenure and performance quality is top-notch. They made a fabulous addition to this tour.
Keep up with HUNNY:
Website / Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Youtube / Facebook / Spotify / Apple Music
Finally, after two stellar opening acts, it was time for the main event. Cartel’s stage lights dimmed early, about 10 minutes ahead of schedule; they were just that excited to get on stage! A low hum accompanied their epic entrance to the stage, when, suddenly, their light show exploded into a rainbow of colors (similar to the album cover of “Chroma”).
Fans at the front row were toting merch from the anniversary collection and even old designs, and it was so interesting to see fans of all ages in this crowd, too. It shows that Cartel’s music stands the test of time.
After I hopped out of the photo pit, I was pleased to hear the first notes of one of their most popular songs, “Say Anything (Else).” This song has such a deep meaning with Cartel’s audience, from listening to it growing up in the teenage years to hearing it live 20 years later, I felt that passion in my chest as every fan sang every word at the top of their lungs.
Will Pugh is a beast, through and through, his vocals and range are out of this world. For over an hour long set, his pitch remained perfect throughout the entire night. As for the rest of the band, they match that same energy in the performance. From back up vocals to gnarly riffs, I think this band has been able to sustain their relevancy and keep up with new trends. Revamping their sound is an understatement with this anniversary tour, their years of experience shows in their guitar playing, high-kicking, and overall performing capabilities.
At the very end of the night, they had audience members fill out a poll to vote on the encore song; totally unique. In Milwaukee, the winner was “I Hide Myself Away,” which got the crowd roaring with excitement upon hearing the first notes ring out through the speakers.
As the night drew to a close, the final song, “Deep South,” was a huge grand finale. When Pugh surprised the front row and jumped down off the stage, he reached out and grabbed the hands of the crowd as the last chorus came to a close.
There is still time to catch this iconic anniversary tour on the road, get tickets here!
Keep up with Cartel:
Website / Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / Spotify
