Dance Gavin Dance Brings Swancore Sounds Back to Vegas with Wolf & Bear, Novelists and Horse The Band
Article and all photos by Chris Rosalejos
LAS VEGAS, NV -- Las Vegas was so lucky to have been the last stop for this summer tour presented by Dance Gavin Dance with support from The Fall of Troy, Horse the Band, Wolf & Bear and Novelists.
We did not get The Fall of Troy for this show, but that is okay. Although we are a little overdue for them to be back in Las Vegas as the last time they were here was on May 05, 2025 – at the Swan Dive venue celebrating their 20 Years of Doppelganger tour.
NOVELISTS – French metalcore act Novelists are taking the scene by storm with their
progressive metalcore sound. This is their 2nd time here in Las Vegas with singer
Camille Contreras.
Now I just recently found out that they played here in 2018 at the legendary Eagle Aerie Hall in Henderson. If you were there, you have no idea how good you had it because a big metalcore act like this one would never play a vet hall like that ever again.
Camille’s cosmic voice absolutely matches with the melodic leads and it’s angelic, and can we please appreciate how phenomenal she looks in that dress? It completely captures the band’s vibe. Now while this band doesn’t sound like the rest of the bands on the bill, I promise you this is a band you don’t want to sleep on.
WOLF & BEAR – Wolf & Bear, a post-hardcore band coming all the way from
Sacramento, California are very much fitting on the bill. They do deliver this “swancore”
sound with your dual vocalists and funky jazz riffs and metalcore chugs.
To see them play from a smaller venue like Backstage Bar and Billiards to Brooklyn Bowl is
awesome. Yes, if you’re wondering they do still play "Twisted Tongues" and yes they do
still open the set with that song, how can they not?
They are also playing new songs from their recently released record A Hill To Die On with the band’s new singer as of 2025, Blair de Leon.
If you like Dance Gavin Dance, this is the band for you. This is my 2nd time seeing the band with Blair and seeing him move around and still nailing his vocals live is incredible.
Horse The Band – Hear me out, take the word "Horse" but...as a band name. So we get Horse the Band.
There is absolutely no way you can’t not check them out. “Nintendocore” pioneers Horse the Band all the way from Lake Forest, California are part of this tour package.
To put it simply, Nintendocore is basically video game music with hardcore punk. There are
a couple of other bands who do this genre of music as well but Horse the Band are the
most known.
While a lot of bands have big flags as backdrops for their stage presences, they had a portrait of a horse. It’s honestly kind of genius, and fun. To add to the fun, Ed Edge is their triangle player and he is a ball of energy.
Yes, I said triangle, and I am not lying – here's the proof. I’m so glad they ended their set with the song "Cutsman" because it’s a breakdown with synthesizers going off in the back.
DANCE GAVIN DANCE – Your favorite “swancore” band is back in town, and I know
I said it previous but we are so fortunate to have them stop last in Las Vegas. They
totally did not have to do that and there’s a lot that goes on to making tours and
shows happen with demographics and logistics.
This was actually my first time seeing Andrew Wells as their lead vocalist since the departure of Tillian Pearson. There is no better replacement, Andrew has been with the band since 2015 and I can’t see a better fit.
Okay at one point during the set, vocalist Andrew puts on a strawberry cap on Martin Bianchini’s head and it was absolutely hilarious because it took way too long for it to fit properly. Seeing the crowd sing along to the songs was jovial, their voices roaring through the room.
They played a 14 song set and ending the set with "Inspire The Liars" feat. Camille from Novelists was definitely a treat, but the room exploded when they played "Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most" – probably their most well known song, if you like Dance Gavin Dance that song is mandatory, no exceptions.
Now we usually put the remaining tour dates in our articles below but considering we
are the last stop that will not be happening. We hope to see Dance Gavin Dance back here in Vegas soon. Thanks for checking out the article.
