Drain is quickly becoming one of the most sought after live shows in the hardcore scene. The California band currently consists of Sammy Ciaramitaro (vocals), Cody Chavez (guitars), and Tim Flegal (drums). Their newest album …IS YOUR FRIEND released last fall, and since then, Drain has set off on a highly successful US tour — ending with their Coachella debut in April. I caught their recent tour stop at Nevermore Hall with support from No Pressure, Haywire, and Secret World.
Secret World is an Australian melodic-hardcore supergroup consisting of members from other bands such as SPEED, Downside, and Trophy Eyes. Despite the band forming in 2023, the band proves that they are veterans of the genre in their live show.
Haywire (aka Haywire 617, not the German band Haywire) brought 30 minutes of absolute chaos to Nevermore Hall on March 25. Austin Sparkland cultivated an energy that was unlike anything I’ve experienced. From demanding a “CIRCLE PIT” to flipping into the crowd himself, the set was nothing short of entertaining mayhem. While in the photo pit, my back was to the stage, and my camera was nearly knocked out of my hand by an incoming stage diver. I don’t know who this stage diver was, or how they got onstage, but they barely missed taking out me and my camera. Sparkland remarked how they like to honor hardcore bands in the cities they plan in, so they performed a cover of Trapped Under Ice’s “Pleased to Meet You.” I remember seeing rock media outlets reposting clips of the cover the next day.
Watch Haywire perform “Pleased to Meet You” by Trapped Under Ice live on YouTube:
Sparkland told the crowd to raise their drinks in toast, which prompted an intermission about his sobriety and addiction issues, “they don’t tell you when you’re born that you have this little thing called addiction. You start drinking because it’s a cool thing to do and you look up to somebody…and then you blink your eyes and it’s ten years later and you’re stealing a car and crashing into a ditch. That’s the kind of person I am when I drink, so I don’t do it anymore […] I bring it up every night because it helps me stay accountable. It helps me not let you down and not let myself down, and I end up connecting with some really good people,” which garnered copious applause.
“What I want you to know is that you’re not alone. It feels like you can’t talk to anybody about it, or maybe you don’t know you’re as bad as you are.” He reiterated how he thought his friends wouldn’t find him cool for not partying, but “they just wanted me to be the best person I could be.” Sparkland instructed the crowd to go to a “dark place in your head” and to think about all the security guards that suck at other venues, “Now what I want you to do next, is to pretend the guy next to you is that security guard that you always wanted to get after. But not these guys. THESE GUYS ARE THE GOOD ONES!” Haywire proceeded to play their final song “Like a Train.”
No Pressure is a California based band featuring frontman of The Story So Far, Parker Cannon. Their set was filled with pop-punk energy, emanating the Warped Tour era. No Pressure’s set felt significantly less electric than Haywire, but still kept the crowdsurfers and moshing going.
At 9:30pm, Drain finally took the stage. Their curtain backdrop stated “Drain is NOT responsible for anything you do in the next 30 minutes.” Although the set was closer to 45 minutes, this statement held true. Drain had some of the highest energy I’ve ever experienced. Their recorded music doesn’t even come close to the live band experience. Ciaramitaro has the energy of a golden retriever gone off leash. Dressed in a tee shirt and board shorts– his non-threatening look I think is widely appealing, especially to people relatively new (me included) to the hardcore scene. Their professions that “Drain is YOUR friend” felt reassuring– even when people are punching and kicking each other– it’s hard not to feel the love. Drain’s stage design reflected their beachy surf rock aesthetic paired with the iconic bloody shark kewpie. The kewpie shark came to life onstage, and stayed a constant hype-man (shark?) throughout the whole set.
Drain opened with the song “Feel the Pressure” from their debut album California Cursed (2020). It starts with classic thrash metal riffs and beats which ascend into the commanding vocals of Sammy Ciaramitaro. During their third song “Stealing Happiness From Tomorrow,” I got smacked in the head with a microphone. Ciaramitaro would throw the mic out to patrons to scream the songs, so I don’t know if this microphone hit happened while the mic was being thrown to or from the stage. Either way, I was looney-toon stunned momentarily. This hit would not prevent me from continuing to document the madness — if anything, it unleashed an adrenaline rush I didn’t know I could have.
Watch the official music video for “Stealing Happiness from Tomorrow” by Drain on YouTube:
Ciaramitaro questioned the audience: “Are you having fun?” pointing to various members in the crowd. He demanded the crowd prove it, and to meet him in the middle. He was determined to find out who was really having fun as he began the melodic pop-punk track “Who’s Having Fun?” It’s one of the least Drain sounding Drain songs, but it’s undeniably catchy and dare I say — fun.
“DRAIN. IS. YOUR. FRIEND” the title of the newest Drain record– Ciaramitaro shouts about midway through the set. He says “It feels incredible to get to be playing these new songs for you guys here tonight. Baltimore has always given us so much love, from Ottobar, Soundstage, thank you guys so much for being here and showing us the fucking love, man.” Ciaramitaro bellowed “WHO’S THE LOUDEST IN THIS ROOM??” and proceeded to split the crowd in half, demanding to see which side could be the craziest. He split the room down the middle, and growled “Pick a side! Pick a side! When I tell you, grab the person in front of you, and push. Nobody moves until I tell you. Wait! Nobody move, nobody move,” Ciaramitaro reiterated, “I want you to feel that shit in your chest […] when it’s time, we’re gonna kill each other! Wait, wait, wait, wait! 1…2…3… 4!” and the floor became one again.
“Are you guys a better crowd than the city of Atlanta?” I pathetically “wooed” in response. What can I say, I love being in a city-favorite crowd. “With your help, I need Baltimore to help me get to the soundboard and back. Do not drop my fatass. Atlanta dropped me. I know Baltimore won’t drop me.” No pressure! I watched as a stagehand brought a surfboard out to the stage. Miraculously, Ciaramitaro made a graceful journey atop the Nevermore Hall patrons. He was not dropped. Take that, Atlanta.
For “Army of One,” a fan in a shark suit was brought onstage to rile up the crowd. He shouted, “Everyone. Circle pit. I want no one standing still. Bigger! Bigger! Even bigger!” The biting guitar riffs kicked in, and like a flying squirrel, the shark dude flew into the pit.
Drain ended with their 2020 album title track “California Cursed,” which I distinctly remember them ending with during their tour supporting Knocked Loose at the Anthem in DC 2024. It felt like a good full circle moment– seeing them end with it while on their own headlining tour. It was an epic night of music that I won’t be forgetting, except for what was forgotten after my head bonking. All worth it. 10/10 experience.
Here are some photos of Drain performing live at Nevermore Hall on March 25, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
Here are some photos of No Pressure opening Drain at Nevermore Hall on March 25, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
Here are some photos of Haywire opening Drain at Nevermore Hall on March 25, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
Here are some photos of Secret World opening Drain at Nevermore Hall on March 25, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
