Phase Fest 2025 : Punk Rock Tears, Tacos, and Tequila Glitches at the Birdcage
Birdcages, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phase Fest returned for its second annual emo-palooza at the iconic Birdcage, and if you didn’t have eyeliner running down your face by sundown—were you even there?
With a balmy 80 degrees and a lineup stacked thicker than your old iPod Mini, Phase Fest 2025 proved the emo revival isn’t just a phase, mom—it’s a lifestyle. The venue buzzed with black skinny jeans, safety pins, and sunblock, while several food trucks offered much-needed fuel between the emotional breakdowns and mosh pit recoveries.
The Ataris opened like a surprise mixtape you didn’t know you needed. Admittedly, I had no idea who they were—but the crowd sure did. When they dropped “Boys of Summer,” my brain exploded in real time. Turns out, I’ve been singing along to them for years without a clue. A total 90s alt-rock time capsule, and I am humbled.
Hawthorne Heights emerged in matching skeleton club jumpsuits, giving us “Death Cab for Cutie, but if they lifted weights.” They promised nonstop throwback emo bangers, and delivered on that oath like sad knights of the pop-punk realm. From the first scream to the last riff, it was deliciously heavy and beautifully unhealed.
Plain White T’s brought the sunshine into our sadboi evening. “Hey There Delilah” played like a mass therapy session, and “Rhythm of Love” had even the most jaded scene kids swaying like it was prom night in 2007. High energy, great vocals, and zero cringe—10/10 would cry-sing again.
Between bands, a DJ kept spirits high with a steady stream of emo classics. However, in true chaotic festival fashion, a tech glitch dropped in beats from tomorrow’s “Tacos & Tequila” hip-hop night mid-transition. Nothing like switching from My Chemical Romance to Pitbull in 2.5 seconds and watching the crowd spiral into a collective identity crisis. The poor guy couldn’t shut it off—Emo Night turned briefly into Club La Boom. Honestly? Iconic.
Bowling for Soup won “Most Likely to Make You Laugh While Crying.” Their lead singer was a riot, roasting the crowd, reminiscing about mall rat days, and somehow making us feel like we were all in one big sweaty family therapy session. Pure fun, pure chaos, and crowd interaction on expert mode.
And then… Hoobastank. MY band of the night. “The Reason” live? Instant time travel. High school lockers, spiral notebooks, and AIM messages came flooding back. Emotional damage never felt so good. Every note was pure nostalgia, and the entire crowd sang along like it was a sacred emo hymn.
Taking Back Sunday closed things out in full suits, looking like sad prom kings crashing a wedding. Musically, they still got it—strong vocals and heavy hooks—but the frontman’s unexpected “1973 Mick Jagger on roller skates” energy threw me off. Good show, just… not my flavor of eyeliner-smeared angst.
Final Grade: A-
The second year of Phase Fest cemented its place as the emo summer camp we never knew we needed. Hoobastank stole the show. Bowling for Soup took silver. And the DJ glitch? Unexpected comic relief. Phase Fest 2025 was proof that the emo heart still beats—just maybe with a bit of tequila and a taco now and then.
🖤 Long live the phase.