It has been seven years since Falling in Reverse released a new album. In 2017 they released the critically mixed Coming Home and since then they have stuck to putting out singles, and remixes. But in 2024 they announced a new album, and with that, a new tour. Popular Monster was released in August of that same year, and the tour kicked off shortly thereafter. Gathering their friends Jeris Johnson, Tech N9NE, Black Veil Brides, and Dance Gavin Dance, POPULAR MONSTOUR 2 began.
First up on the tour was Jeris Johnson. I had never heard of him before this show, but he certainly caught my attention with his set. Also known as The Dragonborn, he uses a mix of metal and a fantasy / medieval style of music to bring a new fun take on the metal genre. Walking to the stage bearing a sword and shield, he had a fun energy to kick off the show with, and ending his set with a cover of Seal’s Kiss from a Rose got the crowd hyped up for the other acts.
Next up, Tech N9NE, and he was the surprise of the day for me. I had always heard of Tech N9NE, but I had never heard any of his songs. This guy owned the stage. Playing around 8 songs, every single one had the crowd going, even encouraging crowd surfers!
One of which led to the best moment of his set, where a young boy looking no more than six, surfed his way up to the stage. Security making sure he made it to the ground safely, Tech N9NE immediately pulled him up on the stage. The boy, named Bobby, was met by a high five from the artist and a crowd of 11,000 people chanting his name.
Following this were the Black Veil Brides. I have been a fan of these guys for a long time, and they did not disappoint. These guys controlled the stage, and of all the groups that played I felt they had the best make-up and outfits of the show. Playing songs like Knives and Pens, Bleeders, and In the End, this group was everything high school me would’ve hoped for them to be.
Next up was Dance Gavin Dance. This was the second time I‘ve seen this group, but the first time seeing them since parting ways with their lead singer, Tilian Pearson. Now in his place, Andrew Wells and the rest of the group owned the night. The energy of the band was amazing, and the interactions they had with one another on stage felt like old friends. I almost want to say this was a better performance than the last time I saw them. It also helps that they played music from across their discography such as Lemon Meringue Tie, We Own the Night, and Evaporate.
However, at long last, the lights came down and Falling in Reverse entered the stage. Kicking off their setlist was ZOMBIFIED, and right from the first song I was baffled by the amount of fire, and pyrotechnics the band was using. Let me tell ya, it was just the beginning of that. Music videos to every song the band played were on display in the stage background, all while the most fire you have ever seen in your life ripped around it.
The best part of Falling in Reverse’s set came after the seventh song ended. Pretending to end their set, the band gathered their equipment and walked off stage, a camera following them broadcasting their exit to a screen over the stage. Entering through a tent that led them to their tour bus, they were stopped by a man holding a revolver. Forcibly holding a cowboy hat towards leading man, Ronnie Radke, he took the hat and was led back to the stage at “gunpoint”. The rest of the band followed behind, they reclaimed the stage, all sporting some form of cowboy gear, and played their western style song All my Life.
I’m told that was the start of the encore, and if there was one thing I could complain about for Falling in Reverse’s set it is that it felt quite small. The other acts, all performing around eight songs a piece, made their 11 (including the encore) feel incredibly short for a headliner.
Regardless, the band performed 3 other songs, concluding with their song Ronald, which even had TECH N9NE come out onto the stage and perform his verse with the band.
Overall, Popular Monstour 2 was a lot of fun. If you are a fan of more hardcore rock and metal, I would suggest you check these bands out or go grab tickets to this tour. Just be prepared for all the fire!…I guess when the band entered the stage to the song Highway to Hell that should’ve been considered a warning!