Following the release of their second full-length album This Is How the World Ends in 2021, alt-rock four-piece Badflower have consistently taken to the road in the years since. Whether it’s a headlining tour, support run, coheadliner, or festival slot, Badflower continuously proves their strength as a live act no matter the size of the stage.

In May, the band’s Instagram was mysteriously wiped to a blank slate, followed by the announcement of their next headliner: the No Place Like Home Tour, with support from Missio and Slothrust. Shortly after, the band released singles “Teacher Has a Gun” and “Detroit,” their first new releases since 2021. Between the clearing of their social media and the new singles, the No Place Like Home Tour is seemingly serving as a bridge between Badflower eras – a new album is certainly imminent.

The tour, still in its first two weeks, arrived to the Fillmore Silver Spring this Saturday, the crowd dotted with neon green beanies. Badflower takes the stage amidst a wash of green lights, with frontman Josh Katz sporting the same aforementioned green beanie (though I was more a fan of guitarist Joey Morrow’s propeller hat). Drummer Anthony Sonetti sits elevated above the stage on a platform filled with lights, backed by an enormous Badflower backdrop. Bassist Alex Espiritu utilizes the platform throughout the set, never standing still for long while he bounds across the stage with a huge smile. 

While their musicality skills are absolutely nothing to scoff at, Badflower’s biggest strength is easily their lyricism. Each song tells an individual story, a conflict and resolution forming out of verses and bridges. Katz often draws upon his own experiences to convey a narrative regarding mental health, addiction, insecurities, love, or fame. “Ghost,” the single from their debut album “OK, I’m Sick” that put Badflower on the entire rock scene’s radar, is one such example.

Katz has previously spoken about how the song relates to his own struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. The song begins softly, building into a crescendo of My Chemical Romance-esque instrumentals. At the lyric “I tried it once again and I think I might black out,” the stage lights plunge into complete darkness, and the venue is eerily quiet for just a moment as “black out” echoes through the air before the audience’s cheers catch up to the silence.

Katz’s other storytelling technique is to create a character, taking on a persona to provide commentary on politics, social media, abuse, or gun control. In “Stalker,” Katz sings from the perspective of a man whose psyche has been influenced by toxic masculinity, dark corners of the internet, and bullying.

Sonically, the song is intentionally erratic, with spoken-word verses as the character Katz portrays bemoans about a woman he is obsessive over but doesn’t know he exists, contrasted with a screaming chorus at the height of the character’s insanity, followed by a soft refrain. Coupled with a gritty, textured instrumental that becomes almost chaotic, this song was easily a highlight of the set. Katz portrays this character through frenzied performance, leaping off the stage and onto the bar to deliver the chorus while a mosh pit rages behind him.

As the song nears its end, the lights dim into a single spotlight onto the platform as Sonetti carries on the instrumentals in an impressive drum solo. Rather than concluding the song, surprised gasps rise from the audience as Katz suddenly appears in the balcony (eating a banana), and the band performs the chorus one final time as Katz sprints around the upper level (pulling out more bananas from seemingly thin air and tossing them to the crowd). The band carries an ability to mix lighthearted moments like this into a set filled with rather heavy topics.

There are very few bands that confront these subjects in such a direct manner. Rather than conceal meanings behind metaphors or flowery language, Badflower confronts their feelings head on using their narrative lyrical style, directly tugging on the heartstrings of the listener in the process. Their message makes them a stand-out act in the rock scene, and the announcement of their next album is highly anticipated.

Badflower will continue the No Place Like Home Tour through the end of October.

Show Date: 09.14.24 // Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore // Badflower Transforms Live Music into Emotional Storytelling on No Place Like Home Tour
Photos & words by Anna Porcella