Summer Of Loud // Concord, CA // 7.6.25

Summer Of Loud Festival

Toyota Pavillion

Concord, CA

July 6th, 2025

The Summer of Loud stop at Toyota Pavilion in Concord brought together some of the biggest names in metalcore for an emotionally charged day of music. This festival already stands apart with its four rotating headliners and a stacked lineup from start to finish. But this year carried a deeper weight. The loss of festival creator Dave Shapiro, Sound Talent employees Emma, Kendall, and Celina, and former Devil Wears Prada drummer Dan Williams was heavy on everyone. That weight never took away from the energy. If anything, it fueled it.

Kingdom of Giants opened the show with a home state welcome. Hailing from Northern California, the band felt right at home on that stage. It was only their second date on the tour, but the nerves didn’t show. From the first drop, they were locked in. Their set felt heavier live than on record, with a crowd that wasn’t afraid to start moving early. They Opened with “Asphalt” and then played through “Wasted Space”, “Bleach”, “Collide”, “Burner”, and closed with “Wayfinder”. Each track landed with weight and set the tone for everything that followed. I wish we could have added another fifteen minutes to their set.

Alpha Wolf followed and brought a different kind of intensity. The band is based out of Tasmania, Australia, and their presence was immediate. They didn’t say much between songs, letting the music speak for itself. Green lights washed over the stage as they tore through tracks like “Sucks 2 Suck”, and “Sub-Zero.” By the time they closed with “Akudama”, the crowd was already mouthing every word. The general admission pit wasn’t packed yet, but the energy said otherwise.

The Devil Wears Prada took the stage not long after. They had missed the night before due to illness, and I think a lot of us (me) were holding our breath hoping they would make it for this date. They did. And even though the set felt too short, it was powerful. Within the first few seconds of starting Watchtower, an audio issue cut through. They immediately called it out with a smile, turning a technical hiccup into something lighthearted. The way they handled it reminded everyone how much personality they bring to the stage. It never feels too serious with them, even when the music hits hard.

They followed up with Danger: Wildman for the old-school fans. They dipped into their most recent album Color Decay and played fan favorites “Salt”, Broken, and Sacrifice”. Toward the end of the set, they played their newest single “For You”, which brought tears to more than a few faces in the crowd. They give everything. They move with intensity. You can tell they are doing what they love.

The Amity Affliction brought the emotion to the surface. You could see it written on fans’ faces, their tears, the written signs signs, and people screaming every lyric. The stage was drenched in red light, adding to the weight of the moment and giving the entire set an almost haunting glow. Joel stood tall despite a broken foot and still gave everything. His presence was strong, steady, and full of grit. Their bassist, who also plays in Kingdom of Giants, was back on stage for his second set of the day. You would never have known. He played with consistency and power, holding it down like it was the first show of the night. Their set included “Pittsburgh”, “Drag the Lake”, and “All My Friends Are Dead”, and the crowd gave it all right back. Their performance felt charged, emotional in every moment.

Parkway Drive changed the tone completely when they came out. The lights dropped. Their set was more than a performance. It was a full-on production. Fire exploded across the stage. Their drummer’s rig rotated in a full circle, flipping him upside down mid-song while fire blasted across the stage. The flames reached across the top of the stage and stayed active throughout the set. With “Prey”, “Vice Grip”, “Ground Zero”, and “Crushed”, they turned the pavilion into a fully immersive experience. Everyone around me was headbanging, smiling, and shouting. I have never seen anything like it and it currently holds as one of my top 3 favorite live performances of all time.

Killswitch Engage followed with a performance that felt like a nod to everything that built this scene. They formed in Westfield, Massachusetts in 1999 and have been carrying this torch for over two decades. They opened with “Rose of Sharyn” and moved into “In Due Time” and “This Fire”, each one hitting with the same energy it always has. “I Believe” brought in something newer, while “The Signal Fire” and “The End of Heartache” reminded everyone why this band still holds such a strong place in the genre. They closed with “My Last Serenade”, and from the barricade to the back of the lawn, people were singing every word. That connection between band and crowd felt effortless. Familiar. Earned.

I Prevail leaned into a moody, cinematic tone for their set. The Michigan based band first gained a lot of attention in 2014 with their cover of Blank Space. Since then, they have carved out a name for themselves with a mix of heavy breakdowns, clean vocals, and high energy performances. Dark risers framed the stage, and the lighting stayed sharp and intentional. Their sound built gradually, each song stacking tension until it broke open with full force. Even when the lights dropped low, the energy stayed high. Their stage presence has come a long way, and it showed in every movement. The pyro continued throughout their set, hitting hard during the biggest drops and lighting the stage in bursts of fire.

They opened with “Bow Down”, immediately pulling the crowd into their space. Self Destruction and Body Bag kept the momentum going, while tracks like “Hurricane” gave a brief moment to breathe. They closed with “Gasoline.” The crowd never let up. Every breakdown, every lyric landed hard.

Beartooth closed the night with a set that felt personal. What began as a raw outlet for emotion and frustration has grown into one of the most respected live acts in modern heavy music. I was genuinely happy we got them as the closer of the evening. It just made sense to end on that note.

Caleb does not just lead Beartooth. He pours himself into every second. From the first few lines of The Lines, he had the entire crowd locked in. A massive serpent stretched across the stage as part of their set design, giving everything a larger-than-life feel. Pyro fired throughout the set, timed perfectly with breakdowns and chorus drops. Animated visualizers played behind the band, many of which displayed lyrics, making it easy for even first-time listeners to sing along and feel included. They moved straight into “The Past is Dead” and “Sunshine!” setting a tone that was both aggressive and deeply emotional. Songs like “ATTN.”, “I Was Alive”, and “Disease” pushed the energy even higher, while the lighting shifted with each moment to match the mood without ever feeling forced.

Between songs, Caleb made a point to connect with the audience. He thanked the crowd, took time to breathe it all in, and made sure everyone felt part of something. There’s a level of connection in Beartooth’s set that feels rare. They are not just playing to an audience. They are playing with them.

Final Notes
This tour wasn’t just about music. It was about showing up for the fans, for each other, and for the people who helped make it happen. Every band brought something different, but the lineup was absolutely perfect and fit like a glove. Concord didn’t just get a show. They got a core memory. I am ready for round two.

Summer of Loud Tour Dates – Summer 2025