WHEN WE WERE YOUNG FEST 2025: A FULL-THROTTLE THROWBACK TO POP PUNK GLORY
The When We Were Young Fest exploded into life on October 18, 2025, at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. If you were anywhere nearby, you could feel it: thousands of fans living out the soundtrack to their teenage years, all revving their voices up for one unforgettable day.
Don Broco brought pure chaos and swagger to When We Were Young 2025. The UK rockers hit the Las Vegas stage with a high-energy set that ripped from start to finish — “Everybody,” “Gumshield,” and “Endorphins” turned the desert crowd into one giant bounce pit.
Even surrounded by nostalgia-driven acts, Don Broco stood out as one of the most electric, forward-pushing bands of the weekend. Tight, loud, and endlessly entertaining, they proved they’re not just keeping up with the scene’s legends — they’re ready to headline the next era of it.
The Plot In You hit the Las Vegas Festival Grounds like a wrecking ball at When We Were Young 2025, and the crowd was not ready for how hard it went. From the second they walked out, the energy in the air shifted. The band tore straight into “FEEL NOTHING,” and the place erupted; phones up, heads banging, pits opening across the sand.
Landon Tewers’ vocals hit with that perfect mix of raw emotion and sheer power, moving effortlessly from guttural screams to soaring melodies that cut through the noise. The band’s sound was massive. Dark, cinematic, and crushing in all the right ways. Every breakdown felt like it might crack the earth open.
By the time they closed with “One Last Time,” the crowd was screaming the lyrics back like their lives depended on it. It was emotional, heavy, and unforgettable, a reminder that The Plot In You aren’t just part of the lineup anymore. They’re one of the defining voices of this entire scene.
The Used hit the stage at When We Were Young 2025 and completely leveled the place. The second Bert McCracken walked out, it was over. The crowd went absolutely feral. They kicked things off with “The Taste of Ink,” and every single person in that desert screamed the words like it was 2002 again.
The band sounded unreal. Tight, loud, and full of that chaotic heart they’ve always had. “Buried Myself Alive,” “All That I’ve Got,” “Pretty Handsome Awkward” — every song landed like a punch to the chest. Bert was in his element too, swinging between cracking jokes and absolutely shredding his voice in the best way possible.
By the time they ended with “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” the entire festival grounds were shaking. People were hugging, crying, crowd-surfing — just completely lost in the moment.
Chiodos returned to When We Were Young 2025 and absolutely wrecked the place. Craig Owens came out swinging, launching into “Baby, You Wouldn’t Last a Minute on the Creek,” and the crowd went ballistic. The band sounded razor sharp, every scream and breakdown hitting like old times.
By the end, with “The Undertaker’s Thirst for Revenge” closing things out, the pit was pure chaos. It felt like the golden era of post-hardcore all over again — loud, emotional, and completely unhinged. Chiodos are back, and they still hit harder than ever.
Yellowcard hit the stage at When We Were Young 2025 and proved once again that their songs still hit straight in the heart. From the first chords of “Way Away,” the entire crowd was singing like it was summer all over again.
Ryan Key’s voice sounded strong, the band was tight, and that signature violin from Sean Mackin sent chills through the crowd. Every track — from “Lights and Sounds” to “Only One” — landed perfectly, pulling everyone right back to the Warped Tour days.
They closed, of course, with “Ocean Avenue,” and the festival grounds turned into one massive sing-along under the desert sky. It was pure magic — emotional, nostalgic, and proof that Yellowcard still delivers like no time has passed at all.
Ice Nine Kills stormed the stage at When We Were Young 2025 and turned the Las Vegas Festival Grounds into a full-blown horror movie. From the moment Spencer Charnas appeared, blood-soaked and grinning, it was clear the crowd was in for something wild.
The band ripped through their horror-themed hits — “Hip to Be Scared,” “The Shower Scene,” “Stabbing in the Dark” — each one delivered with brutal precision and theatrical flair. The stage was chaos in the best way: fake blood, flashing lights, and a pit that looked straight out of a slasher flick.
Spencer commanded the stage like a horror villain turned rock star, and the crowd ate up every second. By the time they closed with “Welcome to Horrorwood,” it felt less like a concert and more like a massacre — and everyone loved it. Ice Nine Kills didn’t just perform; they annihilated.
Weezer took over When We Were Young 2025 and reminded everyone exactly why they’re one of the most effortlessly cool bands in rock. The second Rivers Cuomo stepped up in his sweater and glasses, the crowd knew they were about to get hit with wall-to-wall classics.
They opened with “My Name Is Jonas,” and the festival grounds immediately turned into a massive sing-along. From there, it was hit after hit — “Buddy Holly,” “Beverly Hills,” “Undone,” “El Scorcho,” “Hash Pipe” — all sounding sharp, punchy, and perfectly nostalgic.
Rivers barely needed to sing half the time; the crowd was doing it for him. By the time they closed with “Say It Ain’t So,” it felt like a full-blown celebration of everything that made pop-punk and alt-rock so damn fun in the first place. Weezer didn’t reinvent the wheel — they just rolled it right over the entire festival.
Crown The Empire hit the stage at When We Were Young 2025 and absolutely owned their moment. From the first crushing riff, the energy shot through the crowd like lightning. The band came out swinging with “Immortalize,” and the pit exploded instantly.
Andy Leo was in top form — commanding, fierce, and completely locked in with the crowd. The mix of soaring vocals and heavy breakdowns hit that perfect balance between chaos and melody. Songs like “The Fallout,” “BLURRY (Out of Place),” and “Machines” turned the festival grounds into a full-blown sing-along and mosh fest all at once.
Crown The Empire sounded massive, tight, and confident — like a band that’s still pushing forward while celebrating their roots. By the time they wrapped their set, the crowd was drenched, screaming, and begging for one more. They didn’t just perform at When We Were Young — they proved they still belong at the top of the new generation of heavy hitters.
Panic! At the Disco delivered a headlining set at When We Were Young that felt both nostalgic and alive. Brendon Urie, ever the showman, commanded the stage with effortless charisma and flawless control, taking the crowd through the band’s debut record A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in full.
From The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage to Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off, every song landed with the same urgency it carried twenty years ago. Urie’s vocals were sharp, the band was tight, and the energy never dropped.
The production matched the emotion — bursts of confetti, glowing red lights, and Urie’s signature swagger created an atmosphere that felt like theater as much as rock. Fans screamed every lyric, arms raised, completely locked in.
The biggest surprise came during the encore when former drummer Spencer Smith joined the band for I Write Sins Not Tragedies. The eruption from the crowd was deafening. It was a rare moment that felt like a true full-circle reunion — artist, fans, and legacy all coming together one more time.
As fireworks lit up the Las Vegas sky, Panic at the Disco reminded everyone that even if eras end, the music — and the emotion behind it — never fades.
PANIC AT THE DISCO
CROWN THE EMPIRE
MOTIONLESS IN WHITE
WEEZER
ICE NINE KILLS
CHIODOS
THE PLOT IN YOU
THE USED
STORY OF THE YEAR
DON BROCO
YELLOWCARD
BOYS LIKE GIRLS
THE ROCKET SUMMER
RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS
WHILE WE WERE YOUNG
