Wage War @ The Admiral in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, May 8, 2026 [Photo credit: Pam Whisenhunt]

PAM WHISENHUNT | Go Venue Magazine

It was a beautiful spring night in Omaha, Nebraska May 8th 2026 when Wage War brought their It Calls Me By Name Tour to The Admiral Theatre. From the first note to the final song, the crowd made it clear they had zero interest in standing still.

Orthodox opened the night, and if you weren’t already familiar with them, all you needed was about thirty seconds to get the picture.  They were heavy, frantic, and absolutely relentless. The strobe lights were so intense they practically needed a health warning slapped on the venue doors. About three songs from the end of their set, the vocalist called for some two-stepping, and the pit answered. The pit also did something I hadn’t seen before: a kick line locked in like the Rockettes had wandered into a metal show. It was absurd and awesome all at once. Sirens wailed as the band built into a massive breakdown, vocalist Adam Easterling demanded “I don’t care where you are in this room,” “everyone put your horns up” and they obliged. Orthodox left the stage having done exactly what an opening band should: get the crowd wound up and ready for more.

Nevertel came out next with a different kind of energy. Nevertel blends nu-metal with hip-hop-infused verses and melodic hooks, drawing comparisons to Linkin Park and Bring Me the Horizon. That genre-blending sound is exactly what had some in the crowd questioning whether they belonged on this bill. Not heavy enough for a Wage War show, they said. But Nevertel wasted no time proving themselves, opening strong with arguably their biggest hit, “Break the Silence.” Both Jeremy Michael and Raul Lopez paced the stage and engaged the crowd. About five songs in, Lopez dropped down to the rail and commanded a circle pit and the crowd was more than happy to deliver. They asked how many people had never seen Nevertel before, and a surprising number called out but that didn’t matter, because they were clearly vibing with them. At one point the lights dimmed, cellphone lights came on, and the entire room swayed. When they played “Everything in My Mind,” the recognition was unmistakable. Kalie Wolfe, vocalist of Rivals, joined them onstage lending her vocals, and as she left, the band sent her off with a “Love you, Kalie.” Through it all, Nevertel repeatedly reminded the crowd: “If someone falls down, pick them up.” Clean or not, that kind of intention fits this metalcore crowd just right.

Finally, the main event, Wage War.

The first time this photographer’s love for Wage War hit was at The Truman in Kansas City, April 2023. The song “Manic” drew me in and that show sealed the deal. Catching them on this run was a must. Wage War opened with “4×4” off their new EP It Calls Me By Name, and the weight of it hit immediately.  Heavy and catchy, destine to be a Wage War classic. The second song “Alive” went way back to the beginning but felt as fresh as a new release.  “NAIL5” rounded out the first three songs. When “Tombstone” and “Low” dropped mid set, the crowd was chanting all the words. The pit was fluid, almost alive with circle pits, crowd surfers, and bodies moving side to side, wall to wall. It had been a long time since I’d seen a pit that active.

Seth Blake stepped to the mic and asked if anyone saw him fall into the weeds. He laughed it off saying, “No you didn’t!”. Mentioning it seemed to be a recurring incident.  Next the crowd was handed a choice: “Relapse” or “Who I Am.” It wasn’t close. “Who I Am” won outright.

After a pounding “Death Roll” Cody Quistad asked if they could slow it down for a minute, promising there were plenty more breakdowns still to come. Quistad and Blake were the only ones remaining on stage for a stripped-down acoustic version of “Gravity.” Briton Bond eventually made his way back to the mic, the three of them delivering an impressive harmonious ending to the song.

Bond then stood alone to start “Circle the Drain,” this time with a subtle synth texture woven underneath. The band wrapped up the set with “Purify” “Magnetic,” “Stitch,” and “Manic,” telling the crowd that Omaha had been the best stop on the tour so far.

The encore was “Blindfold” and “Song of the Swamp.” The essence of a Florida swamp was on full display as the song started off with green lights flashing like fireflies against the dark stage, frog chirps and swamp sounds rose before the band crashed in. Ending the night with two songs from their newest EP is a testament to how far they’ve come in the last ten years and how much further they’re going. It’s some of their best work to date.

High energy, start to finish. The crowd was dialed in. Wage War delivered an unforgettable night. There are plenty of dates left on this tour. Get out and catch a show. It’s money well spent.

Wage War Nevertel Orthodox All images © Pam Whisenhunt

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