Later today, Aftershock will take over Discovery Park in Sacramento, becoming a heaven for heavy music fans. Happening from Oct. 1-4, more than 140 artists will play across the festival’s five stages, headlined by My Chemical Romance, Pierce the Veil, Limp Bizkit, and Tool.
Each day, Aftershock straddles the worlds of emo, punk, rock, and metal — and it pays to arrive early. On Thursday, Mayday Parade, the Starting Line, the Used, Free Throw, the Offspring, and the Pretty Reckless kick it all off. Friday keeps the energy high with Drain, Haywire, Alexisonfire, Vianova, Underoath, Public Enemy, Senses Fail, and Atreyu. Saturday presents another explosive wave of sets from Sleeping With Sirens, the Story So Far, La Dispute, the Wonder Years, Counterparts, A Day to Remember, a newly reunited Circa Survive, and Thursday. Finally, Sunday ends the festival on a powerful note with AFI, Queens of the Stone Age, From First to Last (now fronted by Lil Lotus), Sleep Theory, Jutes, Holywater, and President, to name a handful.
Read more: The oral history of the Used’s self-titled debut
With such a packed lineup, we’re narrowing down a few of the must-see bands at this year’s Aftershock. Check out our picks below.
AFI
AFI have spent more than three decades building a catalog that has touched everything between punk, goth, alt-rock, and beyond, whether it’s the atmospheric Sing the Sorrow or the colder Bodies. They have continually evolved without losing the intensity that they found in the ’90s Berkeley hardcore scene. And with Davey Havok’s unmistakable vocals at the center, their Aftershock set is a chance to revisit the classics, hear deeper cuts, and experience one of punk’s most enduring acts in their element. —Kelsey Barnes
Drain
Drain love where they’re from, throwing down PMA-style hardcore that pays homage to the Bay Area. Their take on the sound is bouncy and relentless, blurring old-school hardcore with SoCal thrash (in the vein of Slayer and Dark Angel). Then there are their live shows, which turn into a full-blown beach party, with fans arriving in shark costumes, tossing around inflatables, and breaking into circle pits. Toward the end, the band’s Kewpie shark mascot rides into the crowd on a boogie board. They’ll carry that same energy into Aftershock, raging through songs from last year’s …Is Your Friend and older cuts. —Neville Hardman
L.S. Dunes
Frank Iero will be pulling double duty during Aftershock, performing with My Chemical Romance and his post-hardcore supergroup L.S. Dunes. Iero, alongside Anthony Green, Travis Stever, Tim Payne, and Tucker Rule, have proven they’re much more than the sum of their parts, channeling decades of experience into a sound that’s distinctly their own. With Violet and Permanent Rebellion in their arsenal, L.S. Dunes should make for one of Aftershock’s most cathartic sets. —Kelsey Barnes
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria build out worlds through their songs, spawning a lengthy sci-fi saga that’s both Pink Floyd and Madonna. Live, it’s brought to life intensely, whether that’s Claudio Sanchez playing guitar behind his head or their team bringing an inflatable villain with spiked armor onstage during “Blind Side Sonny.” It’s heady, technically impressive, and emotionally immersive, making them one of this year’s most unmissable acts. Bonus: Catch Travis Stever with L.S. Dunes on Thursday, then again with Coheed the next day. —Neville Hardman
Hot Mulligan
Hot Mulligan have become one of the defining bands of the modern emo revival, carving out their own place in the canon. Their sets tend to become massive shout-alongs, thanks to their brutally honest tracks with huge hooks. With a catalog spanning you’ll be fine, Why Would I Watch, and more, the band have plenty of material to make their Aftershock set stand out. —Kelsey Barnes
