Beartooth Commands at Summer of Loud Festival

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Rockstar Culture in Concert Reviews // 1 Comment

▣Great Park Live | Irvine, CA ▣Saturday, July 5th 2025
▣Photographer/Journalist: Jason Jackson

Beartooth closed out the Summer of Loud Festival on July 5 at Great Park Live in Irvine. Their set felt earned, not just expected. The one-day event featured a heavy lineup. The bands included Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, I Prevail, The Amity Affliction, Alpha Wolf, and Kingdom of Giant. It also dealt with a few setbacks. The Devil Wears Prada dropped from the bill due to illness, and gates opened late after last-minute production adjustments.

Kingdom of Giants opened with a short, focused set that built early energy without trying too hard. Alpha Wolf followed with a sharper edge. Their pacing, presence, and control hit the mark. By the time The Amity Affliction went on, the crowd had locked in. Joel Birch powered through the set after reportedly breaking his foot mid-performance. He even sat on stage at one point with his foot in an ice chest. His visible limp was obvious. He refused to slow down, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

Killswitch Engage delivered a direct, no-frills set that leaned on their core strengths. “The Signal Fire” landed clean. Their cover of “Holy Diver” pulled the crowd in even if it felt slightly out of place stylistically. Parkway Drive kept the momentum up with a tight, well-structured performance that balanced newer material with fan favorites. Even without their usual pyro, the execution was solid.

I Prevail brought the most mainstream-leaning set of the night. Their Taylor Swift cover has gone either way, but the crowd knew every word, and it worked. Their energy and pacing kept the festival moving as night hit.

Beartooth headlined with intention. Caleb Shomo’s control of the stage was immediate. The band’s eleven-song setlist didn’t rely on theatrics. Instead, they focused on delivery. “Doubt Me” and “Might Love Myself” stood out. “In Between” closed the night. It had the same urgency it opened with. The crowd stayed in it the whole time.

This stop of Summer of Loud felt raw but focused. The missing production elements didn’t hurt the show. In some ways, they made the performances more direct. Each band had to hold attention on their own, and the ones who did. Beartooth especially proved they were the right headliner for this night.

Check out our contributor photographer, Jason Jackson photos now!