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Calling a tour “The Big Rock Show” is a big call. Through the history of time there have indeed been some big rock shows and tours. This one is a little different though. It’s celebrating three bands that came to life in three separate decades. The tour could have almost been called the big rock evolution tour. Papa Roach who formed in 1993, A Day To Remember in 2003 and Landmvrks in 2014.  Tonight’ was a generational thing and I can proudly say that in the early 2000’s Papa Roach became one of the most important bands in my life, they were there through it all new life, death, sadness and happiness, every realm and variation of these things possible. If you connect with a band like that yourself, then you get exactly what I am saying. The emo styled punk pop fury of A Day To Remember connected with a different generation yet again; but blurred the lines blending the noughties with the tens and beyond. Landmvrks who take a little for the two forementioned bands and levelled it up into this decade. All three bands have such strong connective elements. When you think about it, how could it not be The Big Rock show.

Landmvarks who hail from Marseille in France are no strangers to Australia. In their fourteen-year career they have become no strangers to Australia. This is their third visit to our country in the last three years and they have clearly worked their asses off building a fan base. For a band that I was seeing for the first time there were a whole lot of people who knew exactly who Landmvrks were here tonight. I’m sure most of them were at the night before’s headline sideshow at Stay Gold in Brunswick, Melbourne. A gig in hindsight I’m regretting I missed.

Purely based on tonight’s set I can understand why Landmvrks are a band on the rise and rising fast. If I’m honest, I have flirted with the bands catalogue over the last couple of years. The albums have been great but have never struck me hard enough to have them on high or semi-permanent rotation. I appreciated the way they threw a variety of genres together and showed a willingness to adventure towards their own sound and on 2025’s “The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been” it felt like they were almost there. Live, they are such a beast, they took away what I thought I knew about the band and put an energy on it that you can only feel as it’s impossible to explain. It’s moments like this that can sway the balance between knowing a band and becoming a fan of the band. Tonight I became a fan of Landmvrks. Frontman Florent Salfati has such a great energy to him, he knows how to hype up a crowd and pull in your engagement. When he asked for a circle pit or a wall of death he got it, whatever he asked of us he got it. Lead guitarist Nicolas Exposito is great to watch and his dirty voice is exceptional, the same goes for bassist Rudy Purkart who is incredible solid and locks into drummer Kevin D’Agostino’s playing with the same intensity. It’s the clean vocals and harmonies of rhythm guitarist Paul Cordebrad that add something really unique to Salfati’s voice and the songs where these more melodic parts shine.

Tonight’s set was a mix of songs from their last two records. This short sharp seven song set was a great way to kick of the show and in hindsight was a modern take on what both headliners bring to the table musically and stylistically as well as going a bit darker and heavier.

Landmvrks are a band that I didn’t expect to find a connection with live, however that all has changed. I’m glad I caught there set; what I saw and heard was one hell of a performance and has taken me from a passing listener to a fan. My advice to anyone checking out this tour is to get there early and catch their set.

Setlist : Creature, Sulfur, La Valse Du Temps, Lost In A Wave, Rainfall, Blood Red, Self-Made Black Hole.

From the moment I heard the lyric “cut my life into pieces, this is my last resort” and then that guitar riff in 2000. I was taken back and discovered a band that would become one of my all-time favourites bands of the new millennium and a very important band to me. The soundtrack to life as it’s often called. Fast forward to today April 8, 2026 and I am finally seeing the band that has carried me through the last twenty-six years. They have always been there and had a message that resonated with me, whether it be something deeply personal or something that I could relate to in life. Papa Roach were an outlet, a release and an escape from a feeling, an emotion and a pathway to making sense of it all. Papa Roach have done it like no other band when I sit down and think of it, they have been my rock n roll therapy. Add to this the energy their catalogue of songs, their depth has no limits and I owe this band so much.

Explosive from the moment they take to the stage Papa Roach “Even If It Kills Me” launches this sensory overload. The production is sensational, the level of finesse in the chaos of this show is second to none. Nothing has been spared or compromised for Papa Roach’s set. Fire, Co2 jets, a video wall that works into the stage, the attention to detail is meticulous. Its all class all the way.

Jacoby Shaddix come out all guns blazing as he works the crowd with so much energy. There is something to be said about a band that can keep an audience in the palm of their hand.

The strike of the first four songs is relentless. Constantly revving us all up, encouraging Rod Laver to get up out of their seats because this is a rock show. By “Dead Cell” he had us all up, fists in the air and screaming along with him, pushing us harder and louder with every prompt. If Shaddix didn’t have you involved by now why are you here?

Shaddix addressed Rod Laver in the way only he can do “Make some motherf*cking noise for Landmvrks. And I know you guys are ready for our brothers in A Day To Remember. My main question now is do you want some more Papa f*cking Roach?” Rod Laver’s response is deafening. “Let’s see a circle pit and let’s see what you got” as the launch into “…To Be Loved” all the power and fury is there yet again and the circle pit just ignites. It’s not only the pit that ignites but it sees Shaddix leave the stage, singing with fans at the barrier and then wandering into the crowd on the left side and up into the seats, shaking hands and singing. It’s such a cool moment. Sure, it’s nothing new, but this seems to be so genuine, it’s not rushed, it’s at his pace which is great and made sure it connected how it should have. The energy is pure magic, how can you not smile at a performance like this. All capped off by Shaddix saying “Now we got you off your seats”. Drummer Tony Palmero even broke his snare, that should tell you how hard Papa Roach are going tonight.

“If you got demons, they die tonight, they don’t belong in this house, no way, no how. Split this crowd in the middle, we are going to exercise them, smash their faces on this dance floor. Open this pit up, all the way to the back” Shaddix commands us as they rock the hell out of us again with ‘Kill The Noise’ and the pit just goes wild again. The flames from the stage scorch us for the hundredth time tonight and it just fuels us even more. ‘Getting Away With Murder’ is another sonic punch that has Melbourne rocking and in fine voice.

“I got a feeling you people here tonight love that shit!! I love it when I see you up on your friends shoulders, I love seeing you in the mosh pit, I love it when I see you guys singing, I love it when I see you guy’s crowd surfing, I just love it seeing you guys having a good time. You guys are here to party tonight. We are a long way from home, but I tell you right now Melbourne is my home. I ain’t here for a long time, but I am here for a good time so we going to throw it down. Thank you guys for making us feel at home.”

The band launches into a brief version of 2Pac’s ‘California Love’ introducing the band. Tobin Esperance on bass, Tony Palmero on drums, Anthony Esperance on Keys, percussion and guitar, and this guy is gonna be a daddy, can you believe it, let’s give it up for Jerry as the chant of Jerry starts Jerry Horton on guitar. These four musicians are simply on fire, tight, energetic and deliver the music so damn well. It’s all live, no tracks and that is the way rock n roll should be. It’s fun and that is all that matters.

“Don’t talk about it, Be about it! Melbourne, let’s see what you got on this one” as ’Liar’ perhaps wasn’t the song I expected with that kind of intro, but the song from their Ego Trip album kind of misses for me, however the crowd doesn’t share my thoughts.

‘Falling Apart’ rocks us again and the crowd are singing at full voice again. The song is just ear candy, that cool kick of rock with the almost pop chorus and feel. Palmero beats hit drum kit within inches of its life on this one. The last bit of the song sees Shaddix drop to his knees and like reading poetry recites to us all “I keep falling, I keep falling and hurting the people that I love. I keep falling, I keep falling and betraying myself, I keep falling, falling …. But I keep getting back up”. It’s a different side to the rock n roll frontman we have enjoyed all night and it’s so powerful.

The screen behind the stage lights the now dark venue with a pre recorded video from Shaddix that talks about mental health, suicide prevention, the effects of suicide; letting us know that it is close to the band and that there is help out there. When they hear someone tell them your music saved my life it makes this cause really important to them, so just by being here tonight, they wanted to give back, and we were a part of it. Papa Roach announce they are making a donation to a local suicide prevention charity in the name of tonight show. For anyone that is in the dark we want you to always know you are not alone, we will always leave a light on for you.

This message alone hit how it should have, and I could imagine how hard it must be to do this live every night. The emotion in this is real. Shaddix asks that we illuminate the place as “this is for the ones we have lost and the ones left behind”. This is what I was talking about before, this band has always had something to offer the heart and soul. ‘Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)’ is just beautiful. It’s acoustic with percussion and just chillingly perfect. The moment of silence at the end hits hard too leaving the Arena in pretty much darkness. The effects of suicide has clearly hit Shaddix personally and he has struggled himself. This is the message everyone needs to hear and feel. You couldn’t help feel it in his words.

“This next song I believe saved this bands career, this one brought me out of the darkness personally, this one right here is called Scars”. Hearing Rod Laver Arena sing this back is just mind blowing. Not a word missed and a definite highlight of the set.

“you guys are amazing, what an audience, for real you guy’s murdered Adelaide, I mean slayed Adelaide. You might be the best so far, but not quite yet, Perth was f*cking unreal” which can gain the response you expect a crowd full of boo’s. “Oh boo, he’s honest. C’mon I’m trying to rile you up a little bit. I need your help singing on this next one called ‘Help’ and I wanna see some crowd surfers”. This song from “Crooked Teeth” has to be one of my favourites and it just grooves along. Shaddix tell us we are all mental as a crowd and that we are officially the best audience of the tour.

“This one is built for the mosh pit” as the band launches into ‘Braindead” and gives us a taste of the evolution to a new era of Papa Roach and it is brilliant live.

“Born For Greatness” pounds it way through Rod Laver. This is a weird song for me, it’s a little too commercial for me and almost comes across as a Pink song (now that’s not a bad thing either) … well that is until it kicks you in the face. I kind of feel this song tried too hard to cross over for the band. It’s a strange choice to close out the main set with too.

Hey good lookin’ plays through the PA along with a cockroach video and the first song of

the encores, is ‘Between Angels & Insects’ with an extended intro. It’s an obvious choice and show off just how good Shaddix’s voice is. Let’s face it, it’s essential Papa Roach. That chorus …. So damn good. The pit comes alive like it hasn’t before tonight. Just WOW.

“We are going to take you on a little journey right now. We like to call this part of the show the nu-metal time machine. Jump in with me and let’s go”. The Medley included ‘Blind’ by Korn, ‘Shove It’ from The Deftones, Limp Bizkit’s ‘Break Stuff’ and System Of A Down’s ‘Chop Suey’. Shaddix again left the stage and graced the crowd on the right side of the stage in the seats hi fiving kids and talking to fans along the way. Again, that personal touch is everything and the fans just lapped it up.

Returning to the stage we all realise this is the last song and it could only be one song ‘Last resort’ which drove Rod Laver to another level. To say this song was nothing short of insane would be an understatement. The perfect song to end an incredible set. It had everything, flames, Co2 jets and a crowd that just bounced.

“We f*king love you !!!” screamed Shaddix “We can’t wait to do this again with you. Thank you, God bless you” before taking a final bow. Rest assured Papa Roch I can’t wait to do this again with you.

Shaddix in a true ring master, part bad ass rockstar, part showman, part intricate human.

Every song hit where it should the dynamics of the set shape the feel; the energy unleashed from the stage came back 15,000 fold.  We fed Papa Roach and Papa Roach fed us back.

It’s incredible that a band can do this and for an hour plus straight.

I get to see so many shows and I know that I connect with so many of them, however tonight’s Papa Roach set connected on a level of its own.  It’s rare that I fall into the hand of a frontman and am captivated by a whole performance. The raw emotion and energy of Jacoby Shaddix is an exception to the rule. He worked an arena like it was a 400 capacity room and that is no easy feat.

Setlist : Even If It Kills Me, Blood Brothers, Dead Cell, …To Be Loved, Kill The Noise, Getting Away With Murder, California Love, Liar, Falling Apart, Leave A light on (Talk Away The Dark), Scars, Help, Braindead, Born For Greatness.

Encore : Between Angels and Insects, Nu-Metal Medley (Blind, My Own Summer (Shove It, Break Stuff, Chop Suey), Last Resort.

A quick modification of the stage and a change of backline prepared A Day To Remember to take to the stage and show us what they had for us. Backing up a set like Papa Roach’s is not going to be an easy feat and more to the point could they deliver a set that energetic and engaging? I’m not so sure.

In some ways judging by the initial reaction from the crowd as they tore into ‘The Downfall Of Us All’ the crowd still had a ton to give.

The energy is really high, and I don’t think I have ever seen so many crowd surfers over the front barrier in the first song at a show as I did tonight. The infectious pop-punk power of ADTR is enough to bring the want to party back in anyone. These guys are fun and just as fun as the first time I saw them at Knotfest Melbourne in 2025. For me ADTR were the surprise of the day there for me. Their energy and fun vibe won me over instantly. However, a full headline set versus a short sharp festival slot can be a whole different vibe.

While the band have this insane energy and much the same stage show as Papa Roach it was far less interactive or atmospheric. A predominantly static logo image graced the screen with subtle animations and colour changes. The flames were there, the Co2 was there too, and these guys just as they did at Knotfest had confetti and man did these guys use some confetti through the night.

Frontman Jeremy McKinnon is a different kind of frontman to Shaddix. His presence has less intensity and a more relaxed fun feel to it. It embodies that pop-punk vibe perfectly. The band are super tight and a fun watch.

What gives ADTR an edge over their pop-punk peers is that they aren’t afraid to push boundaries and crossover into metalcore and dip their toes in alternative radio rock which gives them this broad scoop of fans. Thinking about the crowd they certainly had that broad demographic, goths, punks, emo’s, white collar types and everyday rock radio fans. The crowd clearly a decade younger than myself. I guess it’s about where an artist and their music hits you and where in life you were when you discovered them.

The nineteen-song set tonight featured six songs from their latest album ‘Big Ole Album Vol.1’ which I must admit I haven’t really given a lot of time to yet. It’s great to hear bands feature new music in their sets. 2009’s ‘Homecoming’ had a great run of five songs from it. This was the album that started this incredible wave for them, and all five songs have earned their place in the set. ADTR have a huge history with Australia, and we were one of the first markets to break them outside of America and they haven’t been shy about visiting us and making sure we are looked after.

As with a lot of pop-punk bands there is always some element of fun. From their appearance at Knotfest to now, they have certainly added to the show. Tonight we had a guy dressed as Mario from Super Mario Brothers toss shirts into the crowd during ‘All My Friends’  and two huge basketball hoops placed on either side of the stage and a mass of inflatable basketballs tossed into the crowd and a challenge was set to see which side could shoot more hoops that the other during ‘LeBron’, which the right side won with ease.

This is a fun, forget the world outside kind of show and had they played before Papa Roach I think they would have landed differently for me. While I thoroughly enjoyed their set, it just lacked something for me. For the rest of Rod Laver Arena I don’t think many would agree with me and that’s OK.

Sure, the circle pits on the floor were intense, but unless you are in or around them and their chaos, they all start to look the same from the seats and loose some of that magic. But I will say ADTR’s surfing the crowd surfer was super fun to watch.

McKinnon asks the crowd if we like it when bands leave the stage and tease at playing more songs. He hates it and tells us these are the last three songs, the first of which is ‘If It Means A Lot To You”, the first glance at the band a little more stripped back. Initially goofing with the intro to Nickleback’s ‘Photograph’.

‘Closer Than You Think’ brings the energy back up leading us to the grand finale of ‘All Signs Point To Lauderdale’ which has it all flames, streamers shot from the stage and the obligatory toss of toilet paper into the crowd from the stage. This is simple fun at its finest, a great time and ADTR know how to deliver a fun show.

I must admit that ADTR’s VIP package must have allowed purchasing fans to stand at the back of the stage and watch the show was super cool. What a unique experience they must have had seeing the show from the band perspective. It’s these things that certainly keep fans rabid and engaged.

ADTR are a one huge party live, make no mistake about that. I really enjoyed their set, and I will absolutely check them out live again.

Tonight Rod Laver danced, sang, moshed and there were even teeth knocked out in the frenzy of it all.

Landmvrks delivered an incredible set that set the tone. Papa Roach took everything to a new level and ADTR brought the party home. Without sounding tacky all three bands delivered A NIGHT TO REMEMBER and a show I won’t forget in a hurry.

Setlist : The Downfall Of Us All, I’m Made OF Wax Larry What are You Made Of?, 2^nd Sucks, Right Back At It Again, Bad Blood, Paranoia, Miracle, All My Friends, Have Faith In Me, Flowers, Mr. Highway’s Thinking About The End, Resentment, It’s Complicated, LeBron, All I Want, The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle, If It Means A Lot To You, Closer Than You Think, All Signs Point To Lauderdale.

Wirth many thanks Dallas Does PR for the media accreditiation

The post LIVE REVIEW: PAPA ROACH With Special Guests Landmvarks & prepared A Day To Remember appeared first on The Rockpit.

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE HERE

Bad Stuff, the Dallas-based quintet featuring members of True Widow (Dan Phillips and Nicole Estill) with art rock locals Jackie Dunn Smith, Gabriel Spatz, and Laura Hartman Pearl, announce their self-titled debut album, due June 5 via Relapse Records.

Bad Stuff move with mood and momentum: meditative, repetitive, and slow-burning, with dreamlike melodies drifting through something denser and more dangerous, all delivered with a cool, detached intensity.

On “Summer Girls” (https://youtu.be/Aemwnj0zOK4) a hypnotic, circular drum pattern anchors the track as it unfolds at a deliberate pace, building tension before Phillips’ unmistakable guitar cuts through, with a low, droning undercurrent humming beneath it all.

Bad Stuff began as two bands: Latent Print, an instrumental project featuring Phillips and Estill, which would showcase his rockabilly chops and Estill behind the drum kit, and Concord Kill, Dunn Smith’s synth and drum machine driven project.

“So these songs from our two bands are sitting there, one set that I wrote for Latent Print and another set that Jackie wrote on a four track recorder, and one day we decided that maybe we’d try to put it all together and see if it worked,” recalls Phillips. “And it did. When we were doing the sequence for the record, that “switching the dial“ thing became apparent– there’s not just one sound or one style. It really makes the pacing of the record work and sort of showcases each of the songs.” 

Bad Stuff is available now for pre-order/pre-saves (https://www.relapse.com/pages/bad-stuff-bad-stuff) on vinyl, CD, and digitally.

Bad Stuff track-listing:

1.    Sullen

2.    Gruesome

3.    Summer Girls

4.    Invisible Man

5.    Creator

6.    Hush 1

7.    Nepenthe

8.    Hush 2

9.    Human Crush

10. Work of Art

Bad Stuff is Dan Phillips (Vocals, Guitar), Jackie Dunn Smith (Vocals, Synth), Nicole Estill (Vocals, Drums), Gabriel Spatz (Vocals, Maracas) and Laura Hartman Pearl (Bass). The seeds for Bad Stuff were planted when a friend asked Phillips to start a residency at a Dallas-based lounge, thereby creating an instrumental band with a true crime bent called Latent Print.

Those songs, built for a two-piece, would showcase his considerable rockabilly chops with Nicole Estill (also of True Widow) sliding into the drum throne for the first time. Latent Print created several bespoke compositions for the residency as the band was slated to play on a weekly basis, but the COVID lockdown permanently ended those gigs.

Fast forward a bit to the lockdown days and Phillips’s partner Dunn Smith revealed her work as Concord Kill– synth and drum machine driven tracks built on a four track. Once Phillips added guitar and the two began reshaping material from both projects, Bad Stuff was born.

Instagram.com/realbadstuff

Source: Speakeasy PR

Aden Lou’s Ella drifts gracefully between melodic techno and deep house, crafting a smooth, immersive atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive. Built on a steady, hypnotic groove, the track unfolds with patience, layering warm synth textures and subtle rhythmic shifts that keep things fluid and engaging. The vocals add a soft emotional core, never overpowering the production but blending seamlessly into its dreamy flow. It’s a refined, late-night piece—chill yet purposeful—designed for those moments when the dancefloor breathes and everything moves in quiet harmony.

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RaeCola x Espii’s Dance Zone is a high-energy club cut built for peak-time release, blending punchy house rhythms with a sleek, modern electronic edge. The groove is immediate and infectious, driven by crisp percussion and a bassline that keeps things moving with effortless momentum. Vocals add a playful, commanding touch, guiding the track into full dancefloor territory without overcomplicating its purpose. It thrives on repetition and vibe, locking listeners into its kinetic pulse. Bold, vibrant, and undeniably catchy, it’s a track that knows exactly where it belongs—right in the heart of the dance zone.

Review: UK Blues Awards 2026 The Stables, April 8th 2026 Reviewer / photographer – Paul Dubbelman Time, once more, for the annual UK Blues Awards, not just an awards ceremony but also a gathering of the Blues clan, where everyone involved in promoting, playing, broadcasting, supporting, and enjoying good music comes together to celebrate that […]

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