Bad Omens perform during Aftershock Festival at Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif. on Oct. 4, 2025.
OAKLAND — It was a rousing finale for metalcore heavyweights Bad Omens, who closed out their DO YOU FEEL LOVE North American tour Friday night at Oakland Arena.
The run marked the band’s biggest tour to date, both in venue size and production. Vocalist Noah Sebastian took a seat at the front of the stage near the end of the band’s 90-minute set, addressing a near-capacity crowd and reflecting on the journey that led there.
“I can’t believe we pulled this off and I can’t believe so many people want to see us,” Sebastian said. “We don’t come from a scene that plays music like this in arenas.”
The band has come a long way since its last Bay Area stop — a 2022 opening slot for Underoath at the Warfield. Since then, Sebastian, bassist Nicholas Ruffilo, guitarist Joakim Karlsson and drummer Nick Folio have become regulars on the hard rock festival circuit, including multiple appearances at Aftershock in Sacramento.
“I was wondering the amount of shows we could do before getting worn down,” Sebastian said. “I guess we found out this is exactly the perfect amount.”
Even so, he acknowledged the toll of the road.
“You may get a tired, dialed-back Bad Omens, but you also get to be here for a special night,” he said.
The scale of Friday’s show was sneakily striking. Pyramid-shaped video screens stacked toward the rafters, while strobe lights stretched across the stage. Hidden within the setup were bursts of fire, smoke, lasers and confetti — all deployed with precision to match each track’s intensity.
Though the band hasn’t released a full-length follow-up to 2022’s The Death of Peace of Mind, it had plenty of newer material to draw from, including the Concrete Jungle compilation and recent singles like the anthemic opener “Specter.”
Dressed in all black, Sebastian emerged under stark white lighting, delivering the haunting opening lines. The track highlighted his range, moving from ferocity to restraint. The set unfolded in distinct segments. Each three- to four-song act was broken up by a cinematic cut scenes with a narrator setting the emotional tone for what came next.
Red lighting washed over the stage for the brooding title track and the aggressive “Glass Houses,” while a crumbling cityscape backdrop underscored the intensity of “CONCRETE JUNGLE.”
Sebastian kept banter minimal for much of the night but opened up toward the end, taking time to thank the crew.
“So much work has gone into this moment,” he said. “Every day our crews build all this shit from the ground up.”
Beartooth vocalist Caleb Shomo joined the band for “Nowhere to Go,” adding both vocals and high-energy crowd work. Collab track “V.A.N.” took on a heavier feel live, with Sebastian’s vocals pushed more to the forefront.
Newer songs like “Dying to Love,” “Left for Good” and especially “Impose” translated well onstage, the latter leaning into electronic elements that paired with a dramatic laser and smoke display.
Unsurprisingly, “Just Pretend” drew one of the night’s biggest reactions, with fans singing along as phones lit up the arena — a reminder of the track’s viral rise and role in pushing the band to a new level.
After chants and a sea of phone lights coaxed them back, Bad Omens returned for a heavy encore, closing with “Dethrone.”
Fellow metalcore rockers Beartooth provided direct support, delivering a 45-minute set that leaned into the band’s increasingly melodic direction. Shomo was a constant presence, driving energy from the stage. He has come under some fire recently over the band’s latest single “Free,” which takes on a poppier tone to match his decidedly more flamboyant look. But that sort of looseness tied the band’s set together.
Opening with “Might Love Myself,” the band powered through “Doubt Me” and “ATTN.,” with Shomo rarely pausing for breath. “The Lines,” new single “Free” and “You Never Know” pulled from a cross-section of records.
President perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland, Calif. on March 27, 2026.
“This is the last show of this tour and I’m not leaving here with my fucking voice,” Shomo said before dropping the mic and leading a crowd-wide a cappella singalong.
Still without amplification, he thanked the audience.
“We are Beartooth, and it’s been an honor to play for you,” he said.
U.K. act President opened the night with a sharp 30-minute set. The masked band, once labeled an “industry plant” by skeptics, appears to be gaining traction.
Opening with “Fearless,” the group moved through “Rage” and “Angel’s Song,” with its enigmatic frontman — known simply as The President — stalking the stage and delivering speeches from a podium between songs. A glowing red cross anchored the visual aesthetic.
President closed with “Conclave,” “Destroy Me” and “In the Name of the Father.”
Follow writer Mike DeWald at mikedewald.bsky.social.
About The Author
Mike DeWald is a Northern California journalist and reporter. Mike has been a Reporter with the Bay Area’s KCBS Radio since 2022, and on staff since 2020. Previously, Mike produced KSRO’s “The Drive with Steve Jaxon” drive-time radio show since 2008, covering news, music, pop culture, politics and more. Mike has contributed to a number of digital music podcasts and publications including the Rock’N Vino Podcast and The Download Parlor. He is an avid live music fan and photographer.
Mike DeWald is a Northern California journalist and reporter. Mike has been a Reporter with the Bay Area’s KCBS Radio since 2022, and on staff since 2020. Previously, Mike produced KSRO’s “The Drive with Steve Jaxon” drive-time radio show since 2008, covering news, music, pop culture, politics and more. Mike has contributed to a number of digital music podcasts and publications including the Rock’N Vino Podcast and The Download Parlor. He is an avid live music fan and photographer.