The Popular MonsTOUR II: World Domination stopped in Raleigh on September 4, 2024, and it hit hard. Headlined by Falling in Reverse, the tour was created to promote their 2024 album Popular Monster and covered 44 dates across North America, Europe, and Oceania. By the end, it had grossed $18.1 million. Five bands took the stage, each with their own die-hard fans, aggressive energy, and something to prove. The crowd at Red Hat Amphitheater got their money’s worth.

Jeris Johnson (jerisjohnson.com) opened the night with a set that blended rock and hip-hop in a way that sounded like the internet crashing into a mosh pit. From Eugene, Oregon, he performed tracks from My Sword (2021), I Want Blood / I Want Love (2022), and Dragonborn (2024). His music is loud, fast, and always looking for a fight. The crowd caught on fast. His merch matched the vibe—flashy, confident, and aimed at fans who grew up in the digital noise and want to wear it on their sleeves.

Jeris Johnson

Next up was Tech N9ne (strangemusicinc.net), the independent king from Kansas City. No filler in his set—just rapid-fire bars from a catalog that includes Anghellic (2001), K.O.D. (2009), and ASIN9NE (2021). He’s released more than 20 albums, and the years have only sharpened his delivery. He controlled the stage without needing to oversell anything. His gear booth looked like a red-and-black war zone, full of heavyweight hoodies, Strange Music symbols, and enough graphic tees to outfit a whole underground scene.

TECHN9ne

Black Veil Brides (blackveilbrides.net) came out swinging. They’re from Cincinnati, Ohio, and brought their full lineup: Andy Biersack on vocals, Jake Pitts on lead guitar, Jinxx on rhythm guitar and violin, Lonny Eagleton on bass, and Christian Coma on drums. They played the hits—We Stitch These Wounds (2010), Set the World on Fire (2011), Wretched and Divine (2013)—and added cuts from their 2024 EP Bleeders, which takes cues from Sweeney Todd. The fans showed up with painted faces and studded jackets, and the band delivered exactly what they came for. Their merch was theatrical, bold, and sharp-looking—no half-measures.

Black Veil Brides

Dance Gavin Dance (dancegavindanceband.com) pushed the evening into more technical territory. They’re from Sacramento, and their sound twists through mathy riffs and soaring hooks without losing its punch. The lineup—Will Swan on lead guitar, Matthew Mingus on drums, Jon Mess on unclean vocals, and Andrew Wells on rhythm guitar and clean vocals—handled the chaos with precision. Albums like Downtown Battle Mountain, Instant Gratification, and Jackpot Juicer made up the meat of the set. Their fans moved like they knew every time change. Their merch leaned on surreal visuals and dense, layered designs that mirrored their music.

Dance Galvin Dance

Headlining the night was Falling in Reverse (fallinginreverse.com), from Las Vegas, Nevada. Ronnie Radke fronted the band with the kind of control you don’t fake. Backed by Max Georgiev (lead guitar), Christian Thompson (rhythm guitar), Tyler Burgess (bass), and Luke Holland (drums), they played a tight, heavy set built around The Drug in Me Is You (2011), Just Like You (2015), Coming Home (2017), and Popular Monster (2024). Their use of pyro was over the top in the best way—waves of fire timed perfectly to breakdowns and choruses. The crowd screamed every word back. Their merch tent looked like a battlefield: blacked-out clothing, oversized prints, and fans grabbing everything they could before it sold out.

Falling In Reverse