Nothing More returned to Minneapolis on March 3rd with the kind of explosive energy and emotional intensity that has become their trademark, turning the night into a cathartic blast of rock for the sold-out show at the Fillmore Minneapolis. The night was rounded out by a strong lineup of supporting bands, including Catch Your Breath, Archers, and Doobie, who all brought momentum and building energy in varying forms to the intense night of heavy rock.
Doobie started off the night bringing a different kind of energy to the stage, with a blend of hip hop and rock, and a driving production that immediately caught the crowd’s attention. It was apparent right away that he also had a heavy following in the crowd, with people singing along or screaming his hook, “Do Me Doobie”, at the end of each song. His set leaned heavily on raw honesty and emotional storytelling, with lyrics that touched on addiction and mental health, delivered with an intensity that felt genuine and raw. The mix of vulnerability and aggression started the show with a powerful atmosphere, serving as an unexpectedly strong bridge between the heavier rock acts on the bill and the explosive headlining set that would follow.
Archers followed Doobie with a burst of melodic metalcore that immediately shifted the room back into a heavier gear. The Wisconsin-based band delivered a tight, energetic set built around punchy guitar riffs, soaring choruses, and a balance of clean vocals and aggressive screams and anthems, keeping the crowd engaged from the first song. They really brought up the energy to another level, with the pit opening up and becoming more charged, with crowd surfers starting to fill the floor. They closed, having successfully raised the energy in the venue and set the stage perfectly for the bands still to come.
Catch Your Breath kept the momentum moving forward with a polished set that leaned into the band’s blend of modern hard rock and melodic metalcore. Frontman Josh Mowery anchored the performance with a powerful vocal delivery that moved easily between emotional clean melodies and heavier moments, giving the band’s songs both weight and vulnerability. Behind him, the rest of the Texas-based group drove the set forward with tight instrumentation and a confident stage presence, layering atmospheric guitar textures that filled the room with a massive sound. They hit the stage hard, opening with “Savages”, and songs like “Dial Tone” and “Shame on Me” landed particularly well with the crowd, drawing loud singalongs and screaming from fans who clearly came as already solid fans of the group. By the time their set wrapped up, Catch Your Breath had the audience fully locked in, with the energy in the room building steadily as the night moved toward Nothing More’s closing performance.
Nothing More closed out the night with the kind of explosive performance that has made them one of the most compelling live bands in modern rock, and one of my personal favorites. Frontman Jonny Hawkins commanded the stage from the moment the band launched into their opening songs, moving constantly and feeding off the crowd’s energy while delivering vocals that are unparalleled in energy, emotion, and raw talent. He doesn’t just make the crowd hear the lyrics, but you can genuinely experience how he feels them, and that emotional connection to his vocal delivery heightens the intensity and connection with the crowd. Guitarist Mark Vollelunga, bassist Daniel Oliver, and drummer Ben Anderson locked in behind him with the precision and power that defines the band’s massive sound, and they also perform with a clearly visible connection and enjoyment in playing and working together that just enhances the performance quality and emotional connection.
The set moved through fan favorites like “Don’t Stop”, “Go to War,” and “Jenny,” each one met with loud sing-alongs from the Minneapolis crowd. Nothing More has always balanced heavy instrumentation with deeply emotional themes, and that contrast came through clearly on stage, giving the performance a sense of weight beyond just volume. Hawkins’ constant interaction with the audience kept the energy high throughout the set, turning the room into a shared moment between band and crowd rather than just a typical concert.
Mid-show, he told the crowd that they got to pick the next song they would perform, and by cheers, the song was chosen to be a cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “We’re In This Together”, which could not have been a better theme to capture the energy of what the band and crowd were experiencing. Jonny made multiple comments about how Minneapolis was one of his favorite cities to perform in because of the crowd energy and participation, and this night was no exception.
As the final notes of “This Is the Time (Ballast)” rang out and the crowd screamed every last word back toward the stage, Nothing More brought the Minneapolis stop of the tour to a fitting close, sending fans out into the night on a wave of energy that perfectly capped an already powerful lineup and a night of emotional power and connection.
Be the first to comment