Bayside • Smoking Popes • June 9, 2025 • The Depot
Reviewed and Photographed by Sam Howard
All the way from New York, Bayside is a rock band that is celebrating 25 years of being a band. Playing over 50 different songs over the course of two days, I was lucky enough to catch day one of their show live at The Depot. With a line out the door, the fans were not quite aware just how much of a great show they were in for that night, and as the doors opened at around 6:30 pm, it was showtime.
Smoking Popes
Starting off the night was a rock band called Smoking Popes. Coming from Chicago, Illinois, Smoking Pope played under the same record label as Bayside. As they took the stage about an hour after doors opened, they were met with excitement from the crowd. The way they had their stage setup was very close to the front of the crowd, making this set really intimate off the bat. Then they began to play, and it was instantly very hyped and loud sounds coming from the performers. Though the sounds coming from the stage were very loud, it didn’t sacrifice the harmonies in the vocals or the tone in the guitars.
Their loud and well-balanced sound lifted off the hats of everyone in the room, and the crowd was off to jumping along. Each song grew louder than the last, and they also had very fun call and response guitar solos between the singer and the lead guitarist. It was very fun seeing how the bandmates interacted musically with each other, as well as watching the guitarist jump around to the sound of his playing. The stage presence alone was enough to get anybody off their feet and moving.
Nearing toward the end of the set, Smoking Popes ended up having the crowd sing along to their set. Even though people were still filing in for the show, the crowd was as loud as they could be when singing with the band on stage. With a sound like theirs, Smoking Popes would be a great headlining show to catch at The Depot should they ever come around on tour again.
Bayside
Next up, Bayside was set to take the stage. As a voice came over the PA, imitating a train station conductor, there was a fun little introduction to Bayside. It was as if everyone was waiting for the train to go to our very own Salt Lake City, to which the band came out on stage as it was announced. Right off the bat the energy was insane. The crowd had doubled since the opener, and every single person knew every word to the songs being sung right at the very start. Though the crowd was huge now, the show still felt very intimate, as their stage setup was also very close to the front of the crowd.
As the set took off, it was very noticeable that each member of the band was very charismatic. Not only with the crowd, but with each other on stage. There would be segments where they would tell stories about being a band for 25 years, as well as talk about how they are “digging Salt Lake.” They would also go on to talk about how for night one of their show, they would be playing a lot of the older songs for the die hard loyal fans. When they asked the crowd who would be coming back for night two, nearly every single hand in the room went up and was met with cheers from the crowd. It was here that the singer advised the crowd to “go straight home after the show and take some Advil,” a slight joke to the band being 25 years old.
Bayside was blowing the roof of The Depot. There were no signs of the crowd slowing down. Whether a new fan or an old fan, it seems that everyone was the same under this roof. The synergy of the bandmates on stage was perfect. At one point, they even had their guitar tech play a song with them. The combination of the punk rock guitar sounds and quick pace of the drums was so much fun to watch on the stage. Adding to the energy, there began to be moshpits in the crowd. It felt like a giant party at your friend’s house when his parents were out of town.
The colors on the stage from both the lights and the decorations were very vibrant as well. With a drum kit with red and green drums, to the styles of their guitars, Bayside just looked cool. Nearing the end of their set as well, they brought out some emotionally themed songs to which the crowd still sang every word. At one point, the singer stopped singing to let the crowd sing as well. There was a moment in the concert where everyone realized that every single person was singing the same thing, and being human beings together singing lyrics to a song they all loved.
Night one of the show was coming to a close. The crowd was chanting in a perfect rhythm for the band to play an encore, to which they came out to play their last three songs of the night. It truly was a night for the deep cut, loyal fans, and 22 songs later, The Depot ended up being the perfect place for Bayside to celebrate 25 years of being a band.