Black Veil Brides Hit Texas
- 12thFret
- May 8
- 6 min read
SAN ANTONIO - Fans lined up around The Aztec Theatre waiting eagerly to get as close to the stage as possible to see Black Veil Brides on their North American 2026 tour. Though the climate rises this time of year for the lone star state, the heat did not keep the fans from lining up as early as 3pm though doors were not scheduled to open until 5:30pm.
As fans ushered in for either their VIP meet and greet or general admission seating (standing), the room was filled with excitement and bold fashion as the fans dressed to impress. Having played in Houston the previous evening, and Dallas the night before, it is safe to say that the band is going strong in preparation for the release of their newest album titled, Vindicate.
Starting the evenings performance was a group from Nottingham called As December Falls. The best way to describe this group is .....well, fun. The group engaged the audience with ease and surely gained new fans this evening. Singer Bethany Curtis and guitarist Ande Hunter are definitely a duo to watch as their chemistry only adds to the show, which is fitting considering the two are in fact married.
This power couple leads the band in a fast and fun set of pop/rock that gets it's audience moving which is fitting considering the opening song was titled Carousel. What is interesting and refreshing to hear about this group is that they are in fact an independent band forging their own path in the music scene.
The remainder of their set included songs such as Everything's on Fire but I'm Fine, Mayday, I Don't Feel Like Feeling Great, Teeth, and Therapy. This was the first tour for the band and we hope it is not the last as the show was worthy of being on tour.
As December Falls is a charismatic group that delivered a great first impression to both fans as well as first time listeners. Be on the lookout for this group, this may be their first tour, but we doubt it will be there last.
Next on the bill was a group called TX2, appropriate name while touring the great state of Texas, but the group from our understanding was formed by singer Evan Thomas who is originally from Fort Collins Colorado. The group is known for it's supportive themes regarding metal health and the LGBTQ+ community, which we are completely good with being advocates for mental health in youths of all backgrounds.
Within minutes of being on stage the frontman advocated for Trans lives and the crowd showed an overwhelmingly positive response despite being in the conservative state of Texas which just goes to show that our state is diverse and more open minded that most people might think. Sporting a crop tom and skirt the singer jumped around the stage with ease as the audience joined in, the sea of people rising and falling with the beat of the songs being played.
Some of the notable tracks from this group included: Vendetta, So Numb, and Pickup Truck which are all available to be streamed should you want to give them a listen.
The group mixes a high energy performance with an alt, emo, punk fusion with a loud and boisterous sound that really drives their point home. While the bands stage attire is reminiscent of something out of Vocaloid, it simply works with the bands sound and imagery.
All in all, this is a group that the crowd really enjoyed and worth a watch. Even if you give their music a listen and think it might not be for you, seeing the group live may just change your mind.
Next in the lineup was From Ashes to New. All in all we can't say too much about this group as they had a solid performance, but it just didn't do much for us.
Don't get us wrong, the group is rock solid, they didn't miss a beat and they know how to connect with their audience. There is a good reason they were just under the headliners in this concert, they earned and deserve it.
That being said, it just wasn't our sound and didn't do much for us as their structure was too familiar to the Limp Bizkit style of rap metal that just never appealed to us. Now before you view that as a negative, look at the paragraph above this one.
We acknowledge that this group is in fact, really good and the crowd ate them up with applause, it just wasn't for us. What we did appreciate and admire was at one point the band stopped their song to deescalate a potential fight in the front row.
The group stopped the song to address the disorderly fans and reminded everyone that at a concert we are all family. Use your aggression in the pit but don't come to a show and fight, that just ruins it for everyone else.
That act showed that they truly appreciate and love their fans which goes a long way in earning our respect. Very well done indeed.
The unruly fans were taken out of the crowd and out of the building where officers were seen escorting them off of the property, which was not an easy task. Alcohol was definitely not a friend to those gentleman and unfortunately, they didn't get to see the rest of the show.
The set list for the group included songs Nightmare, Drag Me, Die For You, and Panic closed out the show. Now, just because their style of music is not our thing does not mean that we don't appreciate these guys.
Not only are they solid musicians but we have come to learn that many of them are multi-instrumentalists which speaks volumes about their talent and skill. Jimmy Bennett stood out for his solid guitar work, and some pretty sweet axes.
*We regret we could not get a good photo of From Ashes To New as the lighting was not ideal for our phone as photo badges were not available which prevented us from bringing our camera.
And Now the Main Event: Black Veil Brides
The lights went down and that dramatic music played as members of the headline act took the stage. The crowd erupted as the group started into their opening tune I Am Bulletproof.
The fans were especially excited to see members Andy Biersack and Jake Pitts. The vocalist and lead guitarist definitely drew the attention of the crowd through their charismatic crowd work and masterful guitar work.
Speaking of guitar work, we noticed that both Jake Pitts and fellow guitarist Jinxx had stage played guitars for sale at the merch table. Now, we love a good guitar sale, but the Warlock Jinxx was selling was a beauty to say the least.
Mind you, these are stage played guitars so the price tag usually hovers around the 2k price point. Now that is a lot of money, but at the same time you aren't just getting a guitar or signature guitar, you are getting something stage played which any collector will tell you can help the instrument appreciate in value over the year.
While the set list continued with songs such as Rebel Love Song, Bleeders, Blackbird, and torch, the show also featured a piano solo by Jinxx and an amazing drum solo by Christian CC Coma. While every band member lent a certain talent and charisma to the show, Biersack had the crowd in the palm of his hands.
It did not matter if he was singing, telling the crowd about how the previous nights show in Houston went, or...... talking about feet pics...???? Either way, no matter what the subject, he had complete control of that audience.
The group ended their performance with an encore of In the End which got an enormous response from the crowd who, like any fan, would not want the band to stop. Although it is always sad to see a concert come to an end, it is safe to say that everyone left satisfied.
What was good to see from this group was a mix of not only good songs, but good guitar, good bass, good drums and a great stage setting as well. It may not seem like much to the casual fan, but combining all of these things make it an experience, which is what lasts more than anything.
If you are a fan of Black Veil Brides but did not get to see the show in San Antonio last night, don't get too discouraged as they have more tour dates on the calendar. Even if you can't make it out to one of the shows, their new album Vindicate releases today May 8th 2026.
Perfect timing for this article and hopefully perfect timing for those of you who didn't get to see the group on this tour. If you have the chance to do either, please see them live or pick up that new album as soon as you can.
Black Veil Brides, in a nutshell, one hell of a performance. two big thumbs up.
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