and then we both gooo down togetherrr
• This time we sprang for VIP because I wanted to experience more of the fest and have better/easier chances getting good spots for the acts I wanted to see. VIP IS SO WORTH IT SO IF ITS FEASIBLE FOR YOU I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Some reasons why: 1) nice, clean bathrooms with large stalls and flushable toilets – the restroom area by the main stages was literally an enclosed building so it was nice to have a shaded, cool area to pee lol. 2) it was so very easy for me to get a good spot for all of the acts I wanted to see. Like I came back at the end of the day for fall out boy on Saturday and was able to walk right up to almost barricade. 3) more spaces to just sit down and rest my feet, eat, drink, smoke or whatever else. 4) faster lines to get in/out. 5) Our own food, water stations, bars, food and also coffee (I don’t thin GA had access to a coffee place in the fest) so basically all the amenities of the fest but with way less people in the lines. 6) felt like I wasn’t fighting for my life against all of the attendees so I had more energy to make it through the day
3oh3 was a vibe ngl
• I ended up getting VIP for both days because there were so many dang conflicts of all the acts I wanted to see, so I had to come back and do it again on Sunday xD. Even with both days I still missed some acts I wanted to see cause I was still just so dang tired and my feet were finished. Worth it tho! Ended up selling my pass to a guy outside the gate since I had to leave early for an early flight on Monday. I hope you had fun Kenny!
seeing fall out boy live finally was a lowk dream come tru
• Unfortunately nemo hurt his back a few days before the fest so he didn’t go in there with me very much. Luckily he was able to sell his Sunday one and make some money back. But I was basically solo for most of it but still had so much fun! everyone I ran into were super nice and respectful, but I guess its easier to be that way when were all comfy in VIP lol. I heard GA was in the fuckin trenches tho with a lot of bs going on in the crowds (peep reddit for complaints lol).
i acutally wore heels casually lol
• So I made the effort to go and see: mayday parade (OF COURSE), 3oh3, cobra starship and fall out boy on Saturday, then cartel and the maine on Sunday. Thankfully I was able to also peep hella other sets because of timing, so I also saw/heard neck deep, underoath, coheed and cambria, we the kings, simple plan, escape the fate, pierce the veil (from my hotel room), taking back Sunday (from right outside the fest), a day to remember (from the pit and from my hotel room) and my chemical romance (from right outside the fest and from my hotel room). Shit, typing this out, I hella got my monies’ worth.
no but hearing this song live was crazy cause im pretty sure it's my fave sony by themm
• I stayed at the ahern hotel again. Highly recommend. It was clean and comfortable as expected. Only a ~15min walk to the front gates. Was able to leave and come back pretty easily.
VIBESS
• I also recommend CROCS. On my gosh. The number of heels/boots/vans I saw, I know their feet were HURTING because mine were HURTING in even the most comfy footwear. My cros + a nice pair of soft boyfriend socks saved my ass this weekend.
why they always have white confetti when they perform here lol
• Coheed and cambria went hard in the paint I was rly pleasantly surprised when I heard their set before cobra. Never listened to them before but I actually had to record some on my camera cause damn they sounded hella good.
no but seeing panic after all these years was crazy
• FOB was my fave of the weekend. I mean every set I watched was super fucking good don’t get me wrong, but it was my first time seeing them live and they DELIVERED. Awesome visuals, guest appearance (wiz khalifa lol, forgot they had a song together), Patrick sang his ass off, drummer was locked in, and they played some good bangers from infinity on high (my fave album by them that got me into them back in middle school). It was everything I was looking for from them and more. So thankful for that experience because their regular tour tickets be expensive af which is why I never went to see em lol.
*cry*
• Food was decent – both days I ate the smash fried which were basically French fries with 2 burger patties and cheese. I fucked it up lol, it held me down throughout the day
we're ready af
• Was also very easy to bring in weed so don’t hold back if youre thinking about it lol, it is legal in Nevada tho and everyone as smoking up so maybe its not even prohibited at all xD.
no but to hear your middle school fav songs finally live was fr crazy, they had an awesome song selection
• Was really cool to see all of these acts come together, some of them who hadn’t even done a show in years or sang these songs/albums in years, and put on this show. My inner child is so happy for me after this weekend. You could tell the artists were happy to see how influential these throwback tracks still are. Like during FOB, pete was saying how they don’t rly play certain songs live because they’re “weird” and they figured ppl wouldn’t want to hear it. But I guess they started playing those songs more often and ppl were fucking with it. So he says “keep making weird shit” then proceeds to play some of my faves from infinity on high. I didn’t realize those songs were so weird but I had heard some negative feedback about the album as a whole. Well I guess im weird as fuck because that whole CD slaps and im so glad for these artists (or really anyone) who isn’t afraid to push boundaries and try new things. I feel like that’s what this music scene is all about. But yeah, that gave me confidence regarding my own music journey.
mayday has hella good visuals at their 2025 set
• Mayday killed their set of course. I think It was the first time I’d heard “if you wanted a song” live before. They also did “you be the anchor” which was so beautiful.
lol
• Cartel KILLED THEIR SET. Omg. Chroma has so many bangers on it and they played them very well. They even did A which is like a 10min song lol, but it’s also one of my faves on the album so im so glad they included it.
thanks to all the kind ppl that took my pic lol
• Was glad to see everyone healthy and happy for the most part. We are growing up so it’s good to see ppl not only still alive but thriving and enjoying themselves.
no but them playing a lesson in full was crazyy
ADDENDUM 11/16/25
Soooo yeah I ended up going again this year and IT WAS LIT AS USUAL. But I haven’t updated my blog since I went in 2024 so I figured it combine both years into 1 big review! I’ll keep it short and sweet and let the pics speak for themselves. My experience was much like my time in 2024, thankfully. Here are the highlights:
got some additions to my sleeve right before leaving
• I only went on Sunday because when the schedule dropped, I learned that I I had NO CONFLICTS with any of the acts I wanted to see :D. it was a miracle haha. So I saved some cash and went VIP for 1 day only
ugh love this song.
• Everyone I intentionally saw was amazing. In chonological order: mayday parade, we the kings, the cab, all time low, letlive, breathe Carolina and panicccc. All performances were amazing with excellent song selections and really nice crowds.
visuals were crazy all weekend
• Speaking of the crowds, everyone was super nice here. Prolly my fav part about this fest is the cool energy about everyone. People were generally polite, generous and fun to dance with! For example, one cool chick I met in the bathroom bought me a drink and another man in the boombox booth offered to throw away my trash. I danced with another cook chick at panic and we followed each other on instagram lol. Overall, it was good vibes
we love a surprise guest