Do you love loud events? Do you like leaving a show with your chest still pounding and ears still ringing? Do you enjoy leaving a concert having lost your voice and donning a soaked t-shirt from all your sweat like you just left Planet Fitness? Yes? Then a Nonpoint show for you is a must, and you’re hopefully already buying the tickets as I type. If you’re a fan of this band, then this tour is the tour you must attend. It feels as if you are in a small theater—because you are—but has the intensity of a sold-out arena. Nonpoint has never sounded better, and I cannot recommend their show enough. If you are on the fence about buying tickets to Nonpoint on this tour, then make the jump before I push you off!
Last night I found myself at The Webster Theater in Hartford, Connecticut. For Nonpoint’s "Painful Statements Tour Part 2." I have been to a few shows at this small general admission venue, and I have always enjoyed myself. It can get pretty packed inside like a can of sardines, but it makes for an intimate space for a night you won’t forget. The Webster, as it’s called locally, is a historic building that opened in 1936 as a movie theater and has found itself showing movies to hosting screaming amps and blasting guitars. In the 90’s it became the go-to spot for live music and to this day still brings in well-known artists from hip-hop to metal. It’s now known for large mosh pits instead of popcorn. A small feature that I like is the sloped floor, so although it's all standing room, you do have a slight rise in height to the person in front of you.
New to Nonpoint? Let’s get a quick refresher of this amazing band that emerged from the nu-metal era and the two albums they intended on playing. The band was formed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1997, just as the nu-metal wave was starting to hit the country like a wave from a tsunami. Elias Soriano and Robb Rivera, the founding members, were inspired by heavy riffs with hip-hop-style rhythms. Rasheed Thomas, Adam Woloszyn, and Jaysin Zeilstra are all great additions the band has added over the years to solidify the lineup that we have in 2025. They became known as heavy, honest, and relentless. Soriano’s clever and thought-provoking vocals were always aggressive and gritty. Their biggest break came when Statements in 2000 was released after they just signed with MCA Records. Everyone should know the songs “What A Day,” “Victim,” and “Mindtrip.” To this day those three songs are on my workout playlist. Which reminds me I need to get back to the gym. “To the Pain” was released in 2005, and this tour combined these great albums to bring a solid setlist. “To the Pain” produced one of the best songs of my generation in “Bullet with a Name.” That song is just pure perfection and adrenaline.
Another single to come off the album was “Alive and Kicking”; this is another gym playlist song for me. It just hits on a different level than a lot of songs in the genre. In total the band has released 11 studio albums and 3 EPs. Their newest release is the EP Heartless, which is absolutely a banger of a collection of songs. I highly recommend checking that out. This was the second time I have seen Nonpoint in a year and the third time overall. Last year, I saw them at Wally’s in New Hampshire, and they were just spot on with every song, so I was hoping to see the same level of consistency.
What I did not expect on my night was the two openers being as great as they were. Autumn Kings came out to set the bar for the night, letting the crowd know it was going to be a high-energy atmosphere. I would describe them as sounding a bit like Linkin Park. They even covered “Bleed It Out.” They aren’t as heavy as Nonpoint or Upon A Burning Body but a bit more melodic. I really enjoyed them. They got a follow from me on Instagram and a new fan that’s going to start diving into their catalog! I definitely want to see more of them and can’t wait to see them in the future. Solid performers.
Upon a Burning Body was next up, and that really made the you-know-what hit the fan. Danny Leal, lead singer, knew how to work the crowd. He had them moshing in no time despite the signs around the venue not to do that. It went from melodic metal with Autumn Kings to aggressive riffs and breakdowns. If anyone in the crowd was relaxed, bored, or mailing it in for the night, then the proud Texas band ended that immediately. The band came out slamming like a bat to the head of an unexpected victim. Daniel Leal is absolutely a demon on the microphone. This is another band that I had never heard of that has turned me into a listener. They were crisp, heavy, and relentless. Everything I want in a metal show. Nonpoint nailed the support for this tour.
The stage setup was nothing to write home about, and that’s not a knock on the band. It’s just the standard small club setup, visually. I never expect elaborate stage props at small venues like this. The band did bring their own light setups, which made for a decent light show that I wasn’t expecting. A screen behind the bands displaying band names and added to the ambient lights. To be honest, when you are playing at this level of perfection, there is no need for stage theatrics. Sure, I am a fan of fire, fireworks, and explosions, but that’s not what I want in a small club format. I want exactly what was delivered. Nonpoint’s sound tech needs a raise. The audio levels were perfect. You could hear every instrument stand out on its own, and the vocals were never drowned out or muffled. Who is that guy?
The great thing about this venue is everyone is already on their feet. Even if there were seats, it wouldn’t have mattered; you were going to stand regardless to soak in a night of pure madness. The moment arrived for the stars of the show. Nonpoint was not going to keep you guessing; they were going to play To the Pain and Statements. The other day the band posted the setlist on their socials. The cat's outta the bag. You knew what you were getting, and it was a lot of songs.
The moment everyone was waiting for: Nonpoint. They hit the stage, and you knew immediately they didn’t come to fool around by the sheer force of the bass and drums. The band came out with “Mindset,” and the rush of blood to the head never subsided. It wasn’t just loud; it was in your chest LOUD. My watch wouldn’t stop notifying me of the loud environment I was in. Thanks, Apple, for looking out for me, but it wasn’t going to stop me. You couldn’t tell if it was your heart pounding or the slamming on the bass of Adam Woloszyn and smashing on the drums of Robb Riveria. Either way, you didn’t care if you were going into cardiac arrest; you were along for the ride. You could feel the aggression, which caused absolute calculated chaos. Whether you came to mosh, scream, or just lose yourself for a bit, they were the vessel that was going to deliver it.
The crowd for me was expected. Mostly the fans that started in the 2000s. That's not to say there weren't some youngins in the mix. It’s always great seeing the cool parents bring out the littles. I love taking my kids out to concerts so they can experience the uniqueness of live music. One couple in the crowd was actually upset with the moshing and pushing. I said to myself, “What did you think was going to happen here?” They ended up moving from the center barricade off to the side. I noticed them later on, and they were still having a good time. All’s well that ends well.
All the boys in Nonpoint never sit still. Their energy on stage is unmatched. They simply just bring it. I’ll say it here. Nonpoint might be one of the most underrated bands of all time. Musically and lyrically this band is solid. Throw in their live performances, and it doesn’t get better than that. It’s always cool seeing guitarist Rasheed Thomas share the microphone with Elias as they perform “Tribute.” I will always love when the band plays “Bullet With a Name.” Crowds can’t help themselves from getting on their feet, and last night was no different. The crowd goes nutty. Nonpoint pointed out on Instagram that Hartford was their loudest crowd of the tour. Granted it was only night 2, but I have a feeling that is a prediction that will last throughout this run.
What a day! No pun intended. It was a spectacular night of music. I don’t say that lightly just to say it. Nonpoint brought it all. Nothing was left on the stage. They gave it their all and left no stone unturned. There is no way you left The Webster Theater wanting to pull more energy or inspiration from that stellar performance. All was given by the boys, and the fans fed off of it. My ears are still ringing the day after and I love every minute of it. It’s truly special when artists leave everything on the stage. There is something about creating a connection with fans through live music. Each concert is its own shared experience that cannot be recreated.
This was an experience I will not forget. It was an overload to the system in the best way possible. The band came, saw, and conquered. There's not much more you can ask for. You absolutely got what you paid for. After this many years for a band to bring this much energy to a show really shows how special they are. It’s also a form of respect for music and equally for their fans. People pay hard-earned money to come out and see a band they love, and the band has an obligation to perform. Nonpoint doesn’t just “perform”; they outshine other bands. The energy, the aggressiveness, and the proficiency are all there. They are a complete band and sound better than they ever have before in their career. If you are going through some things in life and need to let off some of that bad energy, this is the tour for you. Buy. The. Ticket.
