Pierce the Veil • Sleeping With Sirens • Beach Weather • June 20, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by: Sam Howard
Growing up listening to emo rock music, there were many bands to choose from. Though the catalog was stacked, two bands made absolute magic every time they were played together: Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens. This summer at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater (UFCU Amphitheater), we got to see both of these bands reunite on stage for a fantastic and mind-blowing show.
Beach Weather
Starting off the show, Beach Weather came out with a fantastic energy with the sun directly in their eyes. With the wind, dust, and heat making a deadly combo for the Amphitheater, it made for interesting conditions, but did not keep the people from showing up fully excited to see these bands play at UFCU Amphitheater. As Beach Weather took the stage, the crowd was amazingly filled off the bat for the show. This band from Boston, Massachusetts, had a great turnout, and they did not disappoint. The start of their set introduced the Utah crowd to their indie rock sound, but their live sound gave a certain grunge sound that their recorded music holds back on. It was a fantastic spark of energy to prepare the crowd for the rest of the bands coming to the stage.
As they only had an 8 song set, Beach Weather killed it with each and every song they played. Taking a minute to talk about the tour and some of the songs they have written, Beach Weather did most of the talking through their music. With the performance of their hit song “Sex, Drugs, Etc.” ending off the set, it broke my heart just knowing that there is not a recorded live version of this song that I can listen to over and over again, as the live version of that song is the best version that they play. I would love to see Beach Weather return to Utah to play at venues such as Soundwell or The Complex, but more importantly, they just need to come back and play their music live.
Sleeping With Sirens
Next in the lineup of great bands, we had the reason everyone showed up early to the venue, Sleeping With Sirens. The anticipation was high, as any Pierce the Veil fan is also a fan of Sleeping With Sirens. Right off the bat, Sleeping With Sirens came in hard with their song “Kick Me,” to which the crowd knew every single word. Having seen Sleeping With Sirens many times before, getting to see them open with “Kick Me” instantly made me feel like I was 14 years old again seeing them for the first time at Warped Tour.
Now it felt like the real show was beginning.
With Sleeping With Sirens setting the tone with their heavy guitars, screaming vocals, and insane rhythms that were impossible not to headbang to, the crowd was finally getting into it. There wasn’t one person who wasn’t on their feet jumping and dancing, singing along to the show, and having the absolute best time during this set. Throughout the set, there was a theme in the songs and speeches of togetherness and taking care of each other. The importance of mental health is something that Sleeping With Sirens has always encoded as a message in each and every one of their songs and performances, and it was refreshing to see that that hasn’t changed at all in the 16 years of them being a band.
As Sleeping With Sirens began to close their 10-song set, I only had one problem with their performance: it was too short. With the end of their last song, “If You Can’t Hang,” I felt that I was left hanging and wanting more Sleeping with Sirens. Other than that, this was a great opener to get the crowd ready for our headliner, and I am sure Sleeping With Sirens is going to be welcomed back with just as much love should they return to Utah once again.
Pierce the Veil
Last up on our lineup was our headliner, Pierce the Veil. A band all the way from San Diego, California, they are an icon of classic emo music and Warped Tour legends, along with Sleeping With Sirens. Coming out of the gates hard with their song “Death of an Executioner”, Pierce the Veil took the stage and the crowd by storm. The whole Amphitheater went nuts. The sound was so heavy and loud that it could have punched a hole through the sky.
I was instantly hit with violent vibrations coming from the sound of the guitars on stage, and it was then that I knew that this show was going to be insane. The sounds were met with energetic movements coming from the guitarist, Tony Perry, and crazy expressions and moves from the bassist, Jamie Preciado. The vocals from lead singer, Vic Fuentes, were a perfect mix of melodic tone and heavy screams, mixing in with the music.
After about a quarter way through their show, Pierce the Veil played a cover of “Where Is My Mind” by Pixies. It was a great segue into the next act of their show. As each song was played and ended, the energy kept ramping up throughout the whole venue. No matter where you stood, whether in the pit, the seats, or all the way on the lawn, the vibes and energy were the same.
For a band celebrating 18 years, and having seen Pierce the Veil play many times before as well, it was exciting to see a crowd of that size celebrate their music so loudly; it was extremely emotional. Having just toured with Blink 182 and played at Delta Center the previous year as well, the size of the crowd was well deserved. Vic would go on to say, “Thank you for buying a ticket and waiting in line to come see us… It’s good to see you guys again.”
Coming to the end of their set, Pierce the Veil began their song “Circles,” which was another crowd favorite and really got the mosh pits crazy in the GA pit. After leaving the stage, the crowd was not ready for the show to be over, and with demands of an encore, Pierce the Veil returned to play three more songs, two of which were the most anticipated of the night. After the first song of the encore, Vic thanked the crowd for “holding on until May” to which the fans roared as the song “Hold On Till May” was played.
At last, they started their final song, “King For A Day,” to which they brought out Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens to perform with them. This was the reason why Sleeping WIth Sirens and Pierce the Veil being on the same bill was such a big deal, and as they began performing this song, I was once again taken back to being a 14 year old at Warped Tour hearing them perform this song live together for the first time.
With the ending of “King for a Day,” the show came to a close. It was a perfect night for emo fans at the Amphitheater that night, and I, for one, was left with a boost of happiness and nostalgia as I walked out of the venue, hoping that Pierce the Veil and Sleeping With Sirens will come back to perform in Utah once again.