Concert Review: Sleeping with Sirens An Ending in Itself Tour in Maplewood, MN
Some bands eventually become nostalgic favorites. Others somehow manage to stay just as exciting every time you see them. Sleeping With Sirens falls firmly into that second category. Bringing their An Ending in Itself tour to Maplewood, Minnesota alongside Rain City Drive and Shyeye, the night felt like a celebration of both where the scene came from and where it's headed.
Shyeye
Opening the night was Shyeye, a project that vocalist Destiny Keller started just two years ago. While this was my first time seeing them live, I've been following the project for a while, and they immediately proved they're an artist worth keeping on your radar.
Their sound carries a lot of the spirit that made early 2000s alternative rock and emo so special. There was a familiarity with it without feeling like a rehash of the past. More importantly, the crowd connected right away. For an opening act playing to a room that's still piling in, getting people engaged can be a challenge, but Shyeye had no issue capturing attention from the start.
The audience was locked in throughout the set, and by the time they closed with their most popular single, "Knot," the energy in the room had noticeably grown. This song, which was recently re-released with a feature from Showing Teeth (who you should absolutely check out if you haven't already), served as the perfect ending to a set that left plenty of people wanting more.
Rain City Drive
If you've had the opportunity to see Rain City Drive before, you already know they rarely miss live. If you haven't, they are one of those bands that can quickly grab an entire room's attention, and that's exactly what they did. They kicked off their set with "Frozen," and from that first song through the end, the crowd was ready, hyped, and locked in.
Their set struck a balance between heavy instrumentals, powerful vocals, and emotionally driven lyrics. One thing I've always appreciated about Rain City Drive is how effortless they make everything look. Whether they're playing one of their heavier songs or leaning into something more emotional, the transition never feels jarring. They keep the energy moving while still giving every song room to breathe and have its moment.
By the end of the set, they had the venue fully warmed up and ready for the night's headliner.
Sleeping With Sirens
It's always interesting trying to review a band you've loved for most of your life. Sleeping With Sirens has been one of my favorite bands since I was 15 years old and came across their first album With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear. Nearly two decades and close to twenty shows later, they still haven't disappointed me, and this time I had the opportunity to photograph it.
The band kicked off their set with "Kick Me," which remains one of the best opening songs in their catalog. Within seconds, the energy in the venue completely shifted as the crowd erupted and the band launched into a performance that never slowed down.
Every member was constantly in motion. Bassist Justin Hills was even doing the splits while still playing. Guitarists Nick Martin and Jack Fowler matched that intensity, spending the night jumping, kicking, and covering every inch of the stage while feeding off the crowd's energy. Meanwhile, Kellin Quinn controlled the chaos with effortless precision, swinging the microphone around between vocals without ever missing a note.
The setlist offered something for every era of Sleeping with Sirens fans. Longtime listeners were treated to throwbacks like "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn" and "The Bomb Dot Com V2.0," while newer material from An Ending in Itself held its own alongside the classics. Tracks like "Forever / Always," "House of Matches," and the title track demonstrated that the band isn't simply relying on nostalgia. They're still creating songs that belong in the conversation with fan favorites from earlier releases.
Sleeping With Sirens continue to perform with the same energy and excitement that made so many of us fall in love with them in the first place. After seeing them nearly twenty times, you'd think some of that magic would wear off. Somehow, it never does.
Wow Kayla!!! What an amazing article so well written so exciting! It made me feel like I was there!! Fantastic article and crazy good pictures. I am so freaking proud of you!!!