The Podcast That Rocked for 10/1/25. LiveNation CEO Michael Rapino says concerts are cheap and YOU are greedy, discussion on NIN, Ghost, A7X, Evanescence, Trivium, and more.
Discussion Topics: -LiveNation CEO Michael Rapino says “Concert Tickets Should Be More Expensive” -Avenged Sevenfold cancels 2025 touring for M. Shadows voice -Matt Heafy of Trivium explains sudden end of Trivium/BFMV tour -NIN Peel It Back in 2026 after Tron: Ares -Ghost sticking with No Phone Tour –Amy Lee says new Evanescence coming in 2026 -Upcoming albums, tours, more.
SONG OF THE WEEK: Dying Wish “I Don’t Belong Anywhere”
“Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino thinks that concerts aren’t nearly as expensive as they should be. Musicians and fans aren’t in a good spot right now. The former suffer from high touring expenses and unreasonable label demands that often leave them penniless or in the red, while the latter have to shell out a hefty sum to attend the live shows of their favorite bands.
Michael Rapino, Live Nation’s CEO, thinks otherwise. He’s certain that concerts should be more expensive than they currently are. Speaking at CNBC and Boardroom’s Game Plan conference, Rapino stated that people have no problem paying large amounts of money for sports. Still, somehow concerts are a problem (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar):
“I think music has been underappreciated. You know, I always joke, sports – it’s like a badge of honor to spend seventy grand for a Knicks courtside. They’d beat me up if we charged eight hundred for Beyoncé, right?” Rapino continued: It’s a real…it’s very under… We have a lot of runway left, right? So when you read about the ticket prices going up, it’s still – average concert price is $72. Try going to a Laker game for that. And there’s eighty of them or whatever the hell. So, the concert is underpriced – has been for a long time.” (Ultimate Guitar)
With a heavy heart, and regretfully, we have to announce that due to a specific condition called a vocal fold hematoma, we have made the necessary decision to push our tour to early next year. We promise to come back stronger than ever. Your tickets will still be valid for the… pic.twitter.com/JfWoMGFnHb
HEAVYS Weekly Breakdown for 9/28/25. A look into the world of heavy music, talking about New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, Kreator, Avenged Sevenfold, and more.
“It’s that time of year again, as the New England Metal + Hardcore Festival has announced a powerful 24 band lineup for the 2025 edition of the music weekend. Set for Sept. 20, a killer lineup of acts led by headliners Lorna Shore will take over The Palladium Outdoors in Worcester, Mass. Who Will Join Lorna Shore on the 2025 New England Metal + Hardcore Festival Lineup? The full bill is pretty stacked for this year. Veterans Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder and Municipal Waste are among the top billed names, while Kublai Khan TX and Drain continue to inch their way up festival bills. It’s also notable that this year will feature the final show performance of Bury Your Dead’s classic lineup.” (Loudwire)
HEAVYS Metal Picks Five new songs to help blow out some speakers. What are you listening to?
HEAVYS Metal Picks | 9/26/25 #Shorts
“Metal titans KREATOR have announced that their sixteenth studio album, KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD, will be released on January 16 via Nuclear Blast Records. Following the recent releases of the KREATOR documentary film Hate & Hope as well as Your Heaven, My Hell, the autobiography of frontman Mille Petrozza, KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD will be the next step in the evolution of KREATOR — a band that is still at its peak more than forty years into their career. Alongside the album and tour announcement, KREATOR have unleashed a krushing new single called “Seven Serpents,” accompanied by a cinematic music video.” (Press Release)
DAYSEEKER Have “Bloodlust” New Album Creature In The Black Night Arrives Oct 24, 2025
Fresh off an epic performance in front of tens of thousands of rabid fans at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky this past weekend, Southern California’s DAYSEEKER — Rory Rodriguez [vocals], Gino Sgambelluri [guitar], Ramone Valerio [bass], and Zac Mayfield [drums] — have released the visualizer for “Bloodlust.”
“‘Bloodlust’ is one of the more eerie and chaotic tracks on the record. It’s about people in your life who want to metaphorically drain the blood from you — those you can’t trust and don’t belong in your life,’ says Rodriguez.
The track is the band’s newest single from the upcoming album Creature In The Black Night, out October 24 via Spinefarm. Pre-save it here.
Produced by Daniel Braunstein (Spiritbox, Silent Planet) and mixed by Zakk Cervini (Blink-182, Bring Me The Horizon, Lorna Shore), the album is Dayseeker’s most immersive and intentional record to date — eerie, cinematic, and threaded with a dark (and sexy) emotional current.
While not a concept album in the traditional sense, Creature in the Black Night exhibits thematic cohesion, from its shadowy visual identity, Grim Reaper iconography, and ominous atmosphere, to how its songs unfold like chapters. “There’s a horror-inspired vibe that took hold early on,” Rodriguez explains. “It wasn’t planned. But once it started showing up in the songs, we leaned into it.”
Fans expecting a sorrowful descent into depression might be surprised — Creature In The Black Night has sharper edges, heavier riffs, and a newfound sense of clarity. “There was this idea that we’d get more and more commercial over time,” Rodriguez says. “But I think the opposite happened — we’re riffing more, I’m screaming more. And it feels good. It feels honest.”
Dayseeker hasn’t just evolved. They’ve ascended.
CREATURE IN THE BLACK NIGHT TRACK LISTING: “Pale Moonlight“ “Creature In The Black Night“ “Crawl Back To My Coffin” “Shapeshift“ “Soulburn” “Bloodlust” “Cemetery Blues” “Nocturnal Remedy” “The Living Dead” “Meet The Reaper” “Forgotten Ghost”
Dayseeker will spend the rest of 2025 on tour. They are serving as support for both Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment through the fall. All dates are below.
DAYSEEKER ON TOUR: SUPPORTING IN THIS MOMENT: 9/27 — El Paso, TX — Speaking Rock Entertainment Center 10/1 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium 10/2 — Las Vegas, NV — The Pearl Concert Theater 10/3 — Paso Robles, CA — Vina Robles Amphitheater 10/4 — Sacramento, CA — Discovery Park 10/8 — Spokane, WA — The Podium 10/10 — Idaho Falls, ID — Mountain Center America 10/11 — Casper, WY — Casper Events Center 10/12 — Colorado Springs, CO — Ford Amphitheater 10/14 — Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre 10/19 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! 10/21 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy 10/23 — Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Special Events Center 10/24 — Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Events Center
The Podcast That Rocked for 9/24/25. Sleep Token fans hurt at Louder Than Life, Green Day fan helped at Riot Fest, more.
SLEEP TOKEN Crowd Surfers Intentionally Dropped | The Podcast That Rocked on YouTube
SLEEP TOKEN Crowd Surfers Intentionally Dropped | The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: -Sleep Token crowd surfers were intentionally dropped/hurt at Louder Than Life -Riot Fest fan was separated from mother and found by Green Day –Riot Fest 2025 coverage including John Stamos causing madness -Kid Rock “Banned” from California -Ghost show canceled for the crappiest reason -Architects go to #1 on Billboard -Upcoming albums/tours/more
“How big are Sleep Token these days? Well, there was no doubt who the most anticipated band was at Louder Than Life thanks to the Louder Than Life app. According to Blunt Magazine, over 21,000 people had added the band’s Friday (Sept. 19) performance to their weekend Louder Than Life schedule ahead of the music weekend.
By comparison, only 11,000 has scheduled themselves to see Slayer, 17,000 were up for Deftones and 17,000-plus were reminding themselves to check out Bring Me the Horizon.
The band’s set was pretty standard to what they have been playing at past shows. However, one interesting moment came during their final song of their 12-song performance. The Louder Than Life set reportedly was the first time lead singer Vessel had played guitar on “Thread the Needle.”(Loudwire)
SILLY GOOSE Are “Split” New Album Keys To The City Arrives Oct 17, 2025 Touring with LANDMARKS Through Fall
Buzzy rap x rock news-and-noisemakers Silly Goose are back with an album full of hard rock party jams. As is always the case with the Goose, they don’t simply crash the party. They take over the party.
Their new album Keys to the City will arrive on October 17 via Blue Grape Music. Pre-order it here.
Today, Silly Goose shared the video for new single “Split.” Watch it here.
The song is a bit of a sonic departure for the Goose, who are known for their hands-in-the-air, good-time-all-the-time anthems. Of course it features their signature grooves and rap x rock style, but with a bit more melancholic and moodily melodic vibe, thus showing off the band’s dynamics and unexpected vulnerability.
“It’s one of the outliers, and it showcases a different side of what we’re capable of,” singer Jackson Foster states. “The raps are more laidback and low-key, and the hook is sing-y. It’s a song about not being ready to move on.”
Silly Goose are touring through 2025, supporting Landmvrks this fall, along with headline dates in December. The band will headline shows in Europe in November, and support Hot Milk on select dates. All dates are below.
KEYS TO THE CITY TRACK LISTING: “Intro” “Cowboy” “Neighbors“ “Traffic” “Keys To The City“ “Dino Interlude” “The Great Dino Escape” “Now Dance“ “Give Me My Money” “Playin’ Games” “Split” “Heart Attack”
SILLY GOOSE ON TOUR: WITH LANDMVRKS, NOVELISTS, + RESOLVE: 9/24 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro Music Hal 9/26 — Calgary, AB — The Palace Theatre 9/27 — Edmonton, AB — Union Hall 9/29 — Vancouver, BC — Hollywood Theatre 9/30 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre 10/1 — Seattle, WA — Neptune Theatre 10/4 — Los Angeles, CA — The Regent 10/5 — Mesa, AZ — The Nile Theatre 10/7 — Dallas, TX — The Studio at the Factory 10/9 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade 10/10 — Nashville, TN — The Basement East 10/11 — Detroit, MI — Saint Andrew’s Hall 10/12 — Toronto, ON — The Opera House
EUROPEAN SHOWS: 11/10 — Point Ephemere — Paris, FR 11/12 — Badehaus — Berlin, DE 11/13 Garagen — Cologne, DE 11/15 — Helldorado Festival — Eindhoven, NL 11/17 — SWG3 Galvanizers — Glasgow* 11/19 — Roundhouse — London* 11/20 — O2 Institute — Birmingham* 11/21 — The Croft — Bristol, UK 11/22 — O2 Victoria Warehouse — Manchester* 11/23 — Dust — Brighton, UK *Supporting Hot Milk
U.S. HEADLINE SHOWS: 12/12 — Chattanooga, TN — JJ Bohemias 12/13 — Savannah, GA — The Sentient Bean 12/14 — Jacksonville, FL — Jack Rabbits 12/16 — Raleigh, NC — Kings 12/18 — Washington DC — DC9 12/19 — Columbus, OH — A&R Music Bar 12/20 — Indianapolis, IN — Hoosier Dome 12/21 – St. Louis, MO — Atomic
Riot Fest 2025 Green Day ft. Argyle, Beach Boys ft. John Stamos, Weird Al, and Too Much Butter
The 20th anniversary of Riot Fest is something special. So special that the Mayor of Chicago declared September 21st “Riot Fest Day” in the city, so that every year we know when to expect the festival to take over Douglass Park.
From cameos, to an amazing arcade, to mini-marts, to seeing a butter statue from a farris wheel, Riot Fest made sure the 20th anniversary was memorable. Below is a breakdown of many of the bands we saw through the day including 100+ photos and interviews. You can also check out our Instagram stories playlist to see everything for yourself, including photo-pit footage and media viewpoints.
Green Day
The closing act of Riot Fest was the band not afraid to discuss the current state of the world, and Riot Fest was decidedly a place to do it. The band made their statements heard through new renditions of “American Idiot” along with other songs as they closed out the three day festival in Douglass Park.
A great moment that is now going viral was when a fan was separate from their mother through the crowd. By being a smart child and knowing what to do, they were able to get close and be pulled on stage to sing while Billie Joe Armstrong was feeling under the weather. Argyle lived out thousands of fans dreams and was then able to meet up with his mom to the side of the stage.
When I was that age I got separated from my mom at the mall. It didn’t end as fun. Good for Argyle and Green Day. Check below to watch the Argyle performance.
Bad Religion
My first time seeing Bad Religion and my first time hearing some of the classic punk that many bands would be inspired by through generations. Bad Religion played Suffer in entirety to a massive Roots Stage in the late afternoon.
Dr. Greg Graffin (yes, he has a legit PhD) has been the driving force of Bad Religion since 1980. 45 years later and you still see in his presence on stage that he loves the crowd and performing for people that care about something bigger than a song.
The Beach Boys ft. John Stamos
After years of teasing and in-jokes to get John Stamos to Riot Fest, the man finally appeared on the main stage to play with The Beach Boys. It was a surreal moment to see him walk on stage with guitar as if it was normal, but at a festival with a butter statue in Stamos’ likeness and a John Stamos look-alike contest, the moment could not have been built up in any better way.
The Beach Boys played the classics on a rainy Chicago afternoon, John Stamos dedicated “Forever” to Bob Saget, and ladies within a 1,500 ft radius all where enthralled with Stamos as he mounted the drum kit. Hearing the shrill “I WOULD DIE FOR YOU JOHN STAMOS!” at barricade is something I’ll remember for a long time.
Below the photos is a short recap of the shenanigans on TikTok as well as the drum mounting photo. It’s safe for work, but keep in mind employees may give confused looks.
Closing out night one on the Riot Stage was the pop-punk icons reformed and as immature as ever. Blink-182 started their set with a Bruce Buffer UFC intro leading into “Rock Show” that fit the perfect tone for Riot Fest on Friday. As Alkaline Trio played earlier in the day, it was natural to bring out Matt Skiba to perform with Blink. Much of the material from Blink’s set ranged over the years but it was worth pointing out how the hits were all covered and everyone got exactly what they thought they would with Blink-182 on stage.
Cliffdiver
I was recommended by many people to see Cliffdiver before going to Riot Fest. I had seen them briefly at Warped Tour DC this past summer, but seeing them in Chicago made a much better statement and presence than in the chaotic Warped environment. The band opened with “Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving!!!”, so it was the perfect song for the audience and perfect introduction for new listeners.
Girl In A Coma
Riot Fest featured the return of Girl In A Coma who reformed last year and confirmed on stage that a new album is in the works. The true punk attitude came out with this group in a pop-punk and emo heavy weekend. The group finished their set covering Selena which was a great tribute and added something unique to the Riot Fest sound.
IDLES
Arguably my favorite set of the weekend came from IDLES on the Rise stage Sunday afternoon. Guitarist Lee Kiernan didn’t wait and went directly to the crowd to play while surfing. Singer Joe Talbot marched along stage and later would bring out Jack White to shred along side the British punk band. This set felt like it had everything.
A favorite moment was a photographer standing next to me in the pit after “Gift Horse” had finished. He said “That’s my new favorite band!” and I told him to check out JoyAs An Act Of Resistance from 2018. IDLES is still making new fans with every performance.
Knocked Loose
Before the light-hearted shenanigans of Blink-182 on Day One came the anger and intensity of Knocked Loose on the Roots Stage. Along with a massive Wall of Death to close out the set, it looked like Knocked Loose was going for the title of heaviest set at Riot Fest. There is an argument that they won that title with this performance as well.
Loviet
Opening up Riot Fest on Day One was Loviet from Canada. The best way to describe her sound would be Taylor Momsen with a bit of grunge flair. We were able to speak a little bit with Loviet after her set as the new song “Stiffy” had dropped on the same day. Scroll below to see what Lovietsays.
Mac Sabbath
All good things come to an end, and that includes Drive-Thru Metal. The farewell tour for Mac Sabbath came through Riot Fest on Weird Al’s stage during Day One. Ronald Osbourne made sure to show off his nuggets the best way he knows while everyone gave praise to the fast food phenomenon.
In a Post-Ozzy world, it seems fitting that this will also soon be the end of Mac Sabbath, but the music and cholesterol will live on.
Marianas Trench
Marianas Trench are embarking on a North American tour that stopped through Riot Fest. The world needs more upbeat rock like these Canadians provide. We spoke with the band to hear their Dad Joke game and talk about the tour.
Microwave
Microwave loving life was something I needed to see as day three was starting to wear on me. Something about seeing the band love being on stage to the big crowd with Riot Land in the background and a front row fan holding a sign reading “I’m Only Hear 4 Microwave” had an uplifting affect on everyone in the photo pit.
Militarie Gun
I have been a fan of Militarie Gun’s sound for a while and my first time getting to see them live was worth standing in the rain. I wanted something with a bit more grit and energy that early in the day and even through the grey weather I could feel the bass carry everyone. It’s good to have a stronger sound and vibe like Militarie Gun on one of the main stages.
The Paradox
After amassing over 1 million followers on Instagram since forming in Atlanta just over a year ago, we got to briefly talk with The Paradox after their set on Day Three. The new EP NSFW is available now and worth hearing as this is pop-punk that has an great sound to it. The band also has a message on how specifically to listen to NSFW.
Senses Fail
Some post-hardcore sound came on Day One and it was styled as characters from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It was the perfect homage to Chicago and added something special that everyone all related to in the windy city. With an hour long set, Senses Fail took people back in time to their sound while making sure Ferris got back before his parents found him out of bed.
Touché Amoré
It had been almost a decade since Touché Amoré played Riot Fest. Even in the rough heat on Friday afternoon and some microphone difficulty, the California based group riled the crowd up to the point of endless crowd surfing. It was safe crowd surfing mind you, the fans at Riot Fest made sure people got around safely. It’s a good festival community for that.
Weakened Friends
Maine’s Weakened Friends opened Day Three and we had the opportunity to speak with them about the new song “Nosebleed”, the music video, and learn how they know about crusty bus stations and busty crustaceans.
Weird Al Yankovic
The legend arrived to Chicago with the biggest audience I have ever seen at a Riot Fest sidestage. It was to the point that much of the audience could not see (or hear) Weird Al play through classics like “Dare To Be Weird”, but that shows the endless demand for the weird one.
The audio issues weren’t so much from the stage but due to bleed over from Alkaline Trio and eventually Knocked Loose. My sole complaint from a great Riot Fest this year was that Weird Al should have been put on the Rebel Stage to accommodate the large crowd and viewing issues.
Regardless, Weird Al was the professional and amazing spectacle that he always is. Over 30 years after pretending to be Kurt Cobain, the man is still making every parody song work.
On the final day, after the Chicago Bears won at home and a loud “F*** the Cowboys” chant broke out, the city felt like it was built on a huge positive community that wanted to stick together. 20 years of Riot Fest has helped to curate what a community with music and art (along with butter) can become. This was my third time at Riot Fest. For many in attendance, it was also not their first Chicago rodeo. I hope the rodeos keep returning.
The Podcast That Rocked for 9/17/25. Can Foo Fighters return to glory? Ronnie Radke VS Yungblud, Limefyre, more.
Can FOO FIGHTERS Return To Glory? | The Podcast That Rocked on YouTube
Can FOO FIGHTERS Return To Glory? | The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: -Foo Fighters perform first show after hiatus, post mocking-AI video -Ronnie Radke is jealous of Yungblud -Limewire buys Fyre Fest branding for some reason -Sleep Token kick off US Arena Tour -Gerard Way and The Interrupters make new band The Mock-Ups -RIP Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates -Vince Neil suffered a stroke last year; Nikki Sixx goes after Mick Mars -Upcoming albums, tours, more
“Foo Fighters have announced an intimate, last-minute show to take place on Saturday in San Luis Obispo, California, at the 900-capacity Fremont Theater. Tickets were only available to purchase in person at the box office beginning at 7 a.m. PST on Saturday. Fans snaked around the venue on Friday night, which means if you’re reading this, it’s almost definitely too late to secure a ticket if you haven’t already done so. Foo Fighters also included a minute-long snippet of music in their announcement post. The heavy, vocal-less track is stacked with furious guitars and aggressive, punkish drums but currently yields no results on Shazam. It’s unclear whether it’s a new, as-yet-unreleased Foo Fighters song or perhaps an old vault track that’s never seen the light of day.” (Loudwire)
Band Currently On The Road Supporting Sleep Token On Their Completely Sold Out US Arena Tour
Australia’s genre-blurring heavyweights Thornhill have dropped brand new single and music video, “Mercia” today.The release comes as the band step onto U.S. arena stages as direct support for Sleep Token’s completely sold-out Even in Arcadia tour which kicked off last night in Atlanta. Equal parts searing and sorrowful, “Mercia” continues the visceral emotional streak of the band’s most recent album,BODIES(released April of this year via UNFD) whilst holding the line as a stand alone release and a testament to the band’s perpetual commitment to pushing their artistic boundaries. Stream “Mercia” HERE and watch the accompanying short film co-directed by vocalist Jacob Charlton and Jon Pisani HERE.
Speaking on today’s release, Charlton shares “’Mercia’ is a song about loving someone lost in their own abyss. It speaks to the ache of giving everything—warmth, devotion, even the hope of carrying their pain—only to be met with silence and defences, by ‘vaults’ and ‘ice’. At its heart, the song is about the futility of trying to heal what resists healing, and the way that struggle leaves you altered, hardened, and haunted. By the close, the speaker admits they are sinking under the weight of their beloved’s spectre. They’ve been hardened by the experience — so much so that they can’t offer mercy anymore.”
“Mercia” offersa devastating exploration of love, loss, and the emotional wreckage left behind. The new track arrives in the wake of Thornhill’s most expansive and globally resonant release to date – their 2025 full-length BODIES, which debuted at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart, #8 on Spotify UK’s Top Album Debuts, and secured Top 40 entries across multiple Billboard U.S. charts, including Hard Music, Rock, and Independent Albums. With over 107 million streams, 15M+ YouTube views, and a rapidly growing U.S. fanbase, Thornhill’s momentum has now become undeniable.
Now, Thornhill will take “Mercia” and BODIES on the road, as they perform to over 200,000 fans across 17 sold-out U.S. arenas on Sleep Token’s Even in Arcadia tour, which started in Atlanta last night and will wrap in Los Angeles on October 11th.
Thornhill As Special Guests To Sleep Token “Even In Arcadia” Tour 2025 ALL DATES SOLD OUT 9/16 – Atlanta, GA – Gas South Arena 9/17 – Sunrise, FL – FLA Live Arena 9/20 – Greensboro, NC – First Horizon Coliseum 9/22 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center 9/23 – Worcester, MA – DCU Center 9/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center 9/26 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena 9/27 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center 9/28 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena 9/30 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena 10/1 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center 10/3 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena 10/5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center 10/7 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome 10/8 – Portland, OR – Moda Center 10/10 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena 10/11 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
“Lorna Shore’s first new album in three years, I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me, is out today via Century Media Records, alongside a highly emotional new music video for “Glenwood.” It visually captures the song’s overarching narrative: Vocalist/lyricist Will Ramos’ personal journey to reconnect with his estranged father. See the gripping music video, directed by Dylan Hryciuk.” (Press Release)
