With the lineup including names such as TX2, Alpha Wolf, The Amity Affliction, The Devil Wears Prada, I Prevail, Beartooth, Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive, The Summer of Loud Festival delivered a relentless night of intense performances, nonstop moshing, and unforgettable moments.
On a blistering Texas day, the Germania Insurance Amphitheater transformed into a headbanging, emotion filled, and unrelenting oasis for The Summer of Loud Festival. The stacked lineup featuring TX2, Alpha Wolf, The Amity Affliction, The Devil Wears Prada, I Prevail, Beartooth, Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive drew a passionate crowd of metalcore fans who came ready to throw down. From the first performance to the final flames at the end of the night, the festival was an absolute success.
TX2 kicked things off with a jolt of alt-rock, instantly connecting with fans and even jumping into the crowd to start the first mosh pit of the day. Australian bands, Alpha Wolf and The Amity Affliction took the momentum and turned it up several notches. Circle pits unleashed and inciting head banging that rippled throughout the amphitheater. This was sure to have the audience feeling sore the next day.
When The Devil Wears Prada came to the stage, they had the audience on their feet and moving. Mike Hranica (vocals) and Jeremy Depoyster (guitar, vocals) had their eyes locked on the crowd. They also made sure everyone had their hands in the air. Their high-octane set had longtime fans screaming lyrics back at the band with conviction.
By the time I Prevail took the stage, the energy was electric and not just from the music. About halfway through their set, during their emotionally charged performance of “Hurricane,” a couple in the crowd got engaged, adding a surprisingly tender moment to an otherwise thunderous night.
That human touch didn’t go unnoticed and gave the crowd a rare breather before Beartooth stormed in with a set list that was put together by the gods. Starting out with “The Lines” and ending with “Riptide”, their set had the crowd screaming the lyrics word for word. Caleb Shomo (vocals) continued to pump the audience up with chants throughout the show, keeping the energy levels high from start to finish.
Killswitch Engage brought a mix of heavy sounds and jokes with Adam Dutkiewicz (guitar) hopping on the mic between songs to do crowd check ins. The night continued with extreme head banging. Fans screaming the words to their last song of the night “Holy Diver”.
Then came Parkway Drive, and with them, an entirely new level of entertainment. Their headlining performance was fire-drenched, complete with pyro blasts, synchronized lighting, and a drum solo in a rotating cage that left jaws on the floor.
Between the non-stop crowd surfing, circle pits, and sweat-drenched mosh pits, The Summer of Loud definitely lived up to its name. It was a night of abreaction, connection, and volume. Truly a celebration of heavy music in all its glory.
I am an Austin, TX based concert photographer with roots in Houston, TX. I graduated from Texas Tech University with both my BA and MBA. In my spare time, I photograph shows in the local Austin scene, buy way too many plants, and go bouldering. Some of my favorite local artists are NSFWho?, Chancla Fight Club, and Nolo.
