There's something surreal about walking into a venue to photograph a band you've been listening to since high school. Now at 36, it felt incredible to see The Devil Wears Prada live, and cover their show from the photo pit. The Devil Wears Prada has been a strong influence in the metalcore scene for the last two decades and have continued to produce epic music. "Flowers" is one of my top favorite albums that came out towards the end of 2025–it's been on repeat at home or blasting in the car.
I usually try to do some research and familiarize myself with the opening bands if I'm not already familiar with their music, but life took me by storm this week. So I went in blind and just enjoyed the ride. Joining The Devil Wears Prada on their Flowers tour are the bands I Promised The World, Split Chain, and Four Year Strong.
This was my first show at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall in Fort Worth, Texas. Where else can you see horses pulling chariots full of tourists, everyone dressed in western attire, a Saint Patrick's Day celebration with thousands of people, and a TDWP concert all in one place? The Fort Worth Stockyards felt more crowded than ever with the Cowtown Goes Green celebration– complete with an Irish-Western parade, the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Armadillo Races, and more. Seeing The Devil Wears Prada live made it all worth it though– my anxiety from the hour commute, Stockyard traffic, and stress from all the crowds faded away once they took the stage. The night didn't start with TDWP though, so let me give a shout out to each of the amazing opening bands that got the energy building early on.
Fort Worth Stockyards after the show.
I Promised The World
Local band from Denton, TX, I Promised The World was first up, and they brought the heat and intensity! Denton has been delivering some great alt-rock bands to the DFW area lately, and I'm so thankful for it. The college music scene around the University of North Texas has been making its way towards Dallas more frequently and the music feels fresh, youthful, angsty, and exciting.
The vocalist paced the stage with fierce energy, like a lion stalking its enclosure, or its prey in the wild– while delivering intense vocals.
Their family and friends filled the side of the stage and, the crowd went wild for the band's intense alt-rock and emo sound. I could easily see them branching out beyond the DFW area and landing some bigger tours soon. I look forward to hearing more of their music and seeing them live again next time they're in town.
Split Chain
I feel like every good tour needs a UK band on the lineup, and Split Chain delivered. I know several bands from overseas have made it big in the US, but there are so many more that haven't fully broken into the US music scene yet, so it's always nice to discover a new band live. I really enjoyed Split Chain's gritty sound, and the simple stage setup; two old box TVs with a static, retro feel and the Split Chain logo that rotated across the screen like an old DVD screensaver. Their edgy alt-rock sound definitely brought strong 90's grunge vibes. They really ripped and got the mosh pit and crowd surfers going! Their set was so good and I throughly enjoyed going in blind tonight and being pleasantly surprised by the lineup. After seeing Split Chain perform live, I look forward to giving their music a deeper listen.
Four Year Strong
Another surprise of the night was Four Year Strong from Worchester, MA. They took the stage and immediately commanded the audience, calling for a circle pit, wall of death, and waves of crowd surfers throughout their set. At one point the vocalist shouted, "More crowd surfing! Get your ass to the fucking front!" and the moshers happily obliged.
Their last song of the night, "Wasting Time" had the most intense drumming and such a catchy beat that had the entire crowd jumping up and down. I can only imagine how the drummer's calves felt after that performance.
My favorite part of their set was the positive energy radiating off the stage. Four Year Strong had such a fun pop-punk feeling and the dual vocals were incredible. I found my gaze constantly switching back and forth between the two vocalists as they sang, each bringing their own intensity to the stage. I will absolutely be listening to them again. Check out their newest release below, called "Whiplash."
Newest single "Whiplash"
The Devil Wears Prada
After such a fun and energetic set from Four Year Strong, the crowd barely had time to catch their breath before The Devil Wears Prada took the stage. The venue and touring crews were exceptionally fast transitioning between bands throughout the night, and before we knew it the lights dimmed and TDWP started their set with keys that slowly built the tension. Moments later the full band exploded onto the stage as intense fog machines placed along the front of the stage created rising walls of fog, while the orange and yellow light beams gave the stage a look of flames behind the band members.
The set was an hour and forty minutes of pure intensity and fun. From the moment the band kicked in, the crowd pulse and surged with energy and screamed along to the lyrics. Apparently I wasn't the only mid-thirties fan who understands why TDWP has been a staple in the metalcore scene for two decades. The breakdowns and vocals were even more powerful delivered live.
Some fan favorites of the night were "Salt," and "Broken," both from their 2022 album, "Color Decay," which was more of an emotional and melodic album compared to their heavier stuff, but both songs still had plenty of intensity live and the crowd loved it. Another fan favorite was "Ritual"– the room erupted with cheers the moment that song began. About an hour into their performance, TDWP gave a birthday shoutout to a little boy at the barricade, who was celebrating his fifth birthday rocking out with his dad. It was a really sweet moment seeing them engage with the next generation of fans.
The lighting technician did an amazing job– the strobe lights and colors added to the music and atmosphere without being overwhelming or distracting. The pit stayed active throughout their set, and there was a steady stream of crowd surfers – just enough to keep things exciting without constantly getting kicked in the head. Mike Hranica is such a great frontman, and brought so much energy, pacing the stage and delivering vocals with the same intensity the band has for years.
I felt lucky catching the second night of the tour– their energy felt fresh and alive. If you have the chance to see them live on this spring tour, you won't leave disappointed. As the crowd poured back out into the Fort Worth night, soaked in sweat from a sold out show, I was reminded of why this band still sticks with us after so many years. Check out tour locations and dates on the bands website below to see if they're making a stop near you.
