May 31, 2025 - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, Illinois

Had a chance to catch SWANFEST 2025 thanks to All My Homies Shoot Film, hell yeah!

Dance Gavin Dance headlined the fest at the Aragon Ballroom alongside Glassjaw, Animals as Leaders, The Home Team, The Fall of Troy, Kurt Travis, Left to Suffer, Belmont, and Dwellings.

Had a few sound mishaps that led to some delays, which unfortunately led to Animals as Leaders having their set cut short, but I must say, in the moments they were up there, I was still enamored by their technical prowess. Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes, the era of progressive metal, its insane how rare it has become to catch that level of skill. I had to remind myself it wasn’t still the 2010’s and that electronic elements of even metal don’t have to take precedent over major technical appreciation alongside the mystifying element their music has. Sure, a set cut short is enough to make a crowd upset, but it was also a reminder of how much more Animals as Leaders we want in our lives.

Now that the awkward part is out of the way, lets go backwards before we go forwards.

Glassjaw is a band I had wanted to see for a long time considering their major following and seeing Daryl Palumbo absolutely GROOVE on stage was phenomenal. He really knows how to carry a stage, has a magnetic quality about him and he truly seemed one with the moment, which kept my eyes on him the entire time. From “Tip Your Bartender” to “You Think You’re (John Lennon)”…. truly a timeless underrated band as usual.

The Home Team was like a jolt of freaking caffeine! Beaming smiles the entire time, this was when I saw the most enthusiasm from the crowd. Hailing from Seattle, throwing indie alternative vibes our way, it’s a far cry from what Seattle is known for but they truly brought the spirit into the festival. The way the band mates synchronized their moves and gave the set their all, give them all the credit in the world!!

Alonside Dwellings, another Indie band this night, their album Lavender Town is another under appreciated masterpiece, they were too much fun!

The Fall of Troy, holy guitarists, "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.", face melting awesome progressive mathcore, I was dying to see them too. They electrified us and somehow always sound like a brand new, up-and-coming sound with the energy they bring to the stage. Finally had some moshpits here, and Thomas Erak held his own while Andrew Forsman banged us away into oblivion. Jon-Henry Batts also had the smoothest bass delivery Ive ever seen. It was all just so effortless and felt like I was being shocked the whole time.

Left to Suffer and Belmont, both honorable mentions. Two completely different vibes, but this night needed Left to Suffer to grind down the sound for the heavier listeners in the crowd. It felt like an opportunity to let out some rage. To hear “Anger,” “Die By My Hand,” and their newest song “Lost in the Dark” was insanely cathartic. Meanwhile some appreciation for a major up and coming Chicago band, Belmont has been around for a decade, has toured with Senses Fail, and they are going to be responsible for bringing back the pop-punk movement. Their interludes and my personal favorite “Albert” they freaking kicked ass on stage with their energy as well!

Better late than never, Dance Gavin Dance!!! We did get a taste of Kurt Travis’s beautiful operatic vocals during the night, and although he is solo he made his appearance which completely highlighted the night that also entailed sound issues. He floored us all when he came out and performed “The Robot with Human Hair pt 3.” He has the voice of a freaking angel. Still, Andrew Wells absolutely owned the night fronting this headliner. Coming out swinging with “Speed Demon” with other insane performances including “Blue Dream.” The highlight for me was the encore “All The Way Down,” “Uneasy Hearts Weight The Most,” with Kurt Travis again!! And “The Ghost Of Billy Royalton.” Abso-fucking-lutely worth a delay for this experience because this band is so groovy through their melodic elements while they also managed to incorporate death core into such a caffeinated sound. Never ceases to amaze me!!

A picture is a reflection of a thousand experiences. Be sure to check out All My Homies Shoot Film incredible visual coverage of the night where these TLDR words can shine for any of you who missed the show!

I’ve gotta come back next year, please!!! - Fiza Javid