Yungblud Brings Chaos, Community, and Catharsis to The Anthem with The Warning
Words and photos by Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography
On Sunday night at The Anthem, Yungblud managed to turn a sold-out room into something closer to a rally, a therapy session, and a punk rock celebration all at once.
That’s been part of his appeal from the beginning. Whether you discovered him through social media, alternative radio, or a festival appearance, Yungblud has built a following that extends well beyond the music itself. His fans don’t just attend the shows, they participate in them. They wear the songs lyrics as tattoos, sing every word, and treat each concert like a family reunion held under strobe lights.
And before the headliner even stepped onto the stage, there was already electricity in the air. Opening the evening was The Warning, the sister trio that continues to gain momentum every time they hit the road. I’ve seen plenty of opening acts arrive to polite applause and cautious attention. The Warning received neither. The crowd was ready for them and welcomed them loudly and enthusiastically. At some point, people are going to have to stop describing them as an “up-and-coming” band.
That phase is over.
From the moment they launched into “More,” the young women of The Warning attacked the stage with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are and knows how to rock a crowd out of their minds. Three sisters, one giant sound.
Daniela Villarreal’s guitar tone cut through The Anthem like a buzzsaw. Alejandra’s bass locked everything together with muscular precision, while Paulina pounded the drums with the kind of force that makes you wonder how a kit survives an entire tour.
“S!ck” and “Escapism” arrived early and hit hard. The audience responded immediately, especially the growing number of fans who clearly came specifically to see The Warning. That’s becoming a recurring theme whenever they tour. They’re no longer just an opening act and their own audience continues to grow larger and larger, everytime they venture out on the road.
Watch The Warning perform “Escapism” live for Honda Stage on YouTube:
“Ego” and “Disciple” brought some of the biggest reactions of the set, while the not yet released song, “Ritual” carried a dark, hypnotic pulse that felt tailor-made for a room packed with alternative rock fans.
What continues to impress about The Warning is how naturally they blend modern hard rock with classic songwriting instincts. Their songs feel contemporary without chasing trends. Heavy without becoming repetitive. Melodic without losing power.
Plenty of bands can write riffs. Plenty can write hooks. Fewer can make both coexist without either feeling forced.
By the time “Sharks,” “Hell You Call a Dream,” and “Evolve” rolled around, the room was fully invested.
Their latest single, “Kerosene” turned the temperature up another notch before they finally closed with “Automatic Sun,” a massive anthem that seemed to expand beyond the stage itself. The final chorus echoed throughout the venue long after the song ended.
For a support slot, it actually felt surprisingly complete. Not abbreviated and not rushed. Just a great rock band making the most of every minute.
At this point, The Warning aren’t merely opening tours.
They’re making strong arguments for headlining them.
The closing stretch featuring “Kerosene” and “Automatic Sun” left little doubt.
By the time they exited the stage, many fans who arrived primarily for Yungblud had clearly become converts.
The Warning Setlist
1. More
2. S!ck
3. Escapism
4. Ego
5. Disciple
6. Ritual
7. Sharks
8. Hell You Call a Dream
9. Evolve
10. Kerosene
11. Automatic Sun
After a brief changeover, anticipation became almost tangible.
You could feel it moving through the room.
Fans pressed closer to the barricade. Phones appeared briefly before disappearing again.
Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Then the lights went down and Yungblud emerged.
Or, more accurately, he exploded on stage and never stopped moving!
The opening strains of “Hello Heaven, Hello” immediately sent the audience into a frenzy. It was a dramatic curtain-raiser, and Yungblud wasted no time throwing himself completely into the performance. Running, jumping, climbing, gesturing wildly, he seemed determined to occupy every square inch of the stage before the first song was over.
And somehow he maintained that energy for nearly two hours. It was stunning; controlled chaos is still chaos!
“The Funeral” followed and instantly transformed the venue into a giant singalong. Thousands of voices joined together, turning the song’s already massive chorus into something even larger.
That’s one of Yungblud’s greatest strengths as a live performer. He understands crowd dynamics instinctively. He knows when to push forward and when to pull back. He knows when to scream and when to simply let the audience take over.
“Idols Pt. 1” and “Lovesick Lullaby” showcased newer material, yet the songs landed with the same enthusiasm as older favorites. That’s not always easy for artists introducing fresh music. Sometimes newer tracks create a lull. Not here.
The crowd seemed eager to follow wherever he wanted to go and the guy barely stops moving. One second he’s standing on a monitor. The next he’s kneeling near the barricade connecting with fans in the front rows. Then he’s racing toward the opposite side of the stage.
It’s exhausting to watch and the crowd loved every second.
“My Only Angel” delivered one of the evening’s more emotional moments before “Fleabag” shifted things into another gear. The song’s mixture of vulnerability and defiance has always connected deeply with fans, and Sunday night’s version felt especially charged. Yungblud spotted a young girl in the audience holding a sign saying that she could play the guitar part of “Fleabag” and he invited her up on stage to join him in performing the song. She turned out to be very charismatic and talented and Yungblud was quite taken with her.
Watch the official music video for “Fleabag” by Yungblud on YouTube:
During the song, you could see the people in the crowd shouting every lyric back to him with an intensity that bordered on catharsis.
During a Yungblud show, the music matters, obviously. But the connection matters just as much. Between songs, he spoke directly to the audience about belonging, acceptance, and finding community. Some artists deliver speeches that feel rehearsed. His felt conversational, messy in the best possible way, and entirely sincere and the sell out crowd responded accordingly. “Lowlife,” “Changes,” and “War” arrived in rapid succession, creating one of the strongest stretches of the night. Each song brought a different emotional texture, yet they flowed naturally together.
Then came “Fire.”
The title couldn’t have been more appropriate.
The Anthem erupted. Fans jumped, screamed, and sang with abandon. Security staff looked simultaneously amused and exhausted.
“Loner” closed the main set, but nobody seriously believed the evening was finished, not with that much energy still bouncing around the room.
Then the encore delivered exactly what the audience wanted.
“Ghosts” felt haunting and intimate despite the size of the venue. Thousands of people had somehow created a moment that felt intensely personal.
Then came “Zombie” – If there was a defining song of the night, this might have been it. Every voice joined in. Every section of the venue participated. The performance carried an emotional weight that transcended simple entertainment. It felt like a shared release after an evening filled with highs, lows, laughter, shouting, singing and connection.
Watch the official music video for “Zombie” by Yungblud on YouTube:
As the final notes rang out and house lights slowly returned, fans lingered rather than rushing for the exits.
That’s usually a good sign. It meant that people weren’t ready to leave the atmosphere Yungblud had created.
The performance carried equal parts intensity and catharsis, allowing both artist and audience one final release before the evening came to an end.
A fitting finale.
For a Sunday night in Washington, that’s not a bad way to spend a few hours, listening to rock and roll.
Yungblud Setlist
1. Hello Heaven, Hello
2. The Funeral
3. Idols Pt. 1
4. Lovesick Lullaby
5. My Only Angel
6. Fleabag
7. Lowlife
8. Changes
9. War
10. Fire
11. Loner
Encore
12.Ghosts
13.Zombie
Here are some photos of Yungblud performing live at The Anthem on June 7, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography.
Here are some photos of The Warning performing live at The Anthem on June 7, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography.
That’s a very nice write-up, and some sensational photographs. Sounds like a good time was had by all. And now, that includes even those of us, from far away, who weren’t there in person. THANKS FOR SHARING!
That little girl Playing fleabag was our daughter Caylee