Black Veil Brides performing on the stage in the front of packed crowd at The Astro in La Vista, Nebraska on Saturday, May 2, 2026. [Photo credit: Pam Whisenhunt]

PAM WHISENHUNT | Go Venue Magazine

The line to get into The Astro in La Vista on Saturday, May 2nd was long and from what I understand the VIP event was full. Out front, I overheard a few elder emos lamenting the good old days in one breath and then admitting their bodies just can’t handle the pit like they used to in the next. Fair enough. But once the doors opened and the night got moving, it was clear nobody was going home early.

As December Falls kicked things off, and if you weren’t familiar with the Nottingham, England pop-punk outfit before Saturday night, you soon will be. The band is out here making their first-ever trip to the States in support of their 2025 album Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine, and they made an impression. From the opening notes, the crowd was jumping and clapping along, the kind of instant response you rarely see from an opener. Vocalist Bethany Curtis commands a stage the way most headliners do, and it set the bar high for everything that followed. Even the elder emos in the back were moving.

TX2 followed and took the energy somewhere else entirely. Frontman Timothy Evan Thomas and guitarist Cam Rostami weren’t content to stay on the stage; at one point, the two crawled over the barricade and made their way into a circle pit, and the crowd absolutely lost it. The two share a similar look on stage that gives their performance a cool, mirrored dynamic, and the acrobatics matched the intensity. Thomas made sure to use his moment at the mic for more than just music, addressing the crowd directly and making clear that trans rights are human rights. It landed. This is a band that genuinely connects with the people in the room, and a set like this one makes it easy to understand why their following keeps growing. It’s worth noting that TX2’s debut album End of Us features a collaboration with Black Veil Brides’ Andy Biersack on “The End of Us,” which makes this tour billing feel like a lot more than a random package.

From Ashes to New took the stage with the energy of a band that genuinely can’t believe how lucky they are and means it. The Lancaster, PA outfit has been a road warrior act for years, and catching them live is like running into an old friend you haven’t seen in a while but pick right back up with instantly. They were out supporting their freshly released album Reflections, which dropped April 17th, and the room responded like they already knew every word. The crowd sang along to “Die For You,” and the whole room locked in together. Lance Dowdle kept up his trend of cycling through masks throughout the set, adding another layer to an already high-energy performance. Matt Brandyberry at one point shared how excited they were to have one of their newest songs, “Drag Me,” ranked No. 8 on Spotify across all genres noting its no small feat when the competition includes a Nine Inch Noize remix of “Closer” fresh off their widely talked-about Coachella set. Stiff company. Their closing song came with instructions: lose your fucking mind. They obliged. From Ashes to New consistently brings it, and this set was no exception.

Then came Black Veil Brides.

The Hollywood veterans (Andy Biersack, Jake Pitts, Jinxx, Lonny Eagleton, and Christian “CC” Coma) delivered a set that felt polished in all the right ways. The chemistry between bandmates was visible from the floor, and Biersack took the time to actually talk to the crowd between songs, making the night feel personal. At one point all five members turned to face the drum kit, revealing matching vests, the kind of polished detail that has always set this band apart. They pulled from both old catalog and new material from Vindicate, their seventh studio album, which was just days away from its May 8th release. Hearing those songs live before the album even dropped made it feel like La Vista got something a little special, and the crowd was there for all of it.

All four acts brought the energy on Saturday night. The crowd inside The Astro showed up ready, and every band met them there. Black Veil Brides and company have plenty of road ahead on the North American Tour, and if La Vista is any indication, the rest of the run is going to be loud.

Black Veil Brides From Ashes to New TX2 As December Falls All images © Pam Whisenhunt

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