Silverstein brings 25 years of Noise to Portland, celebrating their legacy with a high-energy show packed with emotion, nostalgia, and post-hardcore power.
The Aura in Portland, Maine, has quickly become one of the city’s newest hot spots for live music. Portland has been steadily growing its concert scene. What was once limited to just the State Theatre and the Cumberland County Civic Center has now expanded to include The Aura, formerly The Asylum before its renovation, and the incredible summer venue Thompson’s Point. Portland feels like a mini version of Boston, offering all the great music, food, and entertainment without half the traffic.
Like many bands we know and love, Silverstein is currently out celebrating 25 years as a band. They’re on the road with Greyhaven, Broadside, and Real Friends, and the lineup promises a high-energy night. It absolutely delivered.
Kicking off the night was Greyhaven, a band from Louisville, Kentucky. They were the perfect group to set the tone, immediately igniting the crowd with their intense energy and raw emotional sound. The post-hardcore band opened their seven-song set with “The Welcome Party,” the lead track from their 2024 EP Stereo Grief. From there, they took the crowd on a journey filled with soaring melodic choruses, thunderous drumbeats, lightning-fast guitar riffs, and a roller coaster ride of guttural screams and melodies.
The setlist featured a healthy mix from their discography including “All Candy” from their 2022 album This Bright and Beautiful World, along with “Echo and Dust Pt. 1” and “Pt. 2” from their 2018 album Empty Black. Greyhaven primed the audience for a night of post-hardcore and emo rock, leaving a powerful impression long before the headliner took the stage.
Next up was Broadside, a pop-punk band from Richmond, Virginia. Picking up right where Greyhaven left off, Broadside took the energy in a different direction, swapping gritty growls for infectious hooks and upbeat melodies that kept the pit moving and the crowd surfing.
The band opened with “Stranger,” a standout track from their 2023 album Hotel Bleu, which immediately had the crowd jumping and dancing. Their eight-song set kept the momentum high, packed with catchy choruses that stuck in our heads long after the show ended. Highlights included their brand-new single “I Think They Know” and “Foolish Believer” from their 2020 record Into the Raging Sea.
Frontman Ollie Baxter brought a magnetic presence to the stage, delivering vocals with a mix of heart and swagger. His ability to connect with the audience, whether through a well-placed lyric or an explosive chorus, added a personal spark to the band’s already energetic performance. He danced, leaned into the crowd, and made the entire room feel like it was singing along with an old friend.
This is a band you definitely want to put on your must-see list should they come to your area. Broadside is in perfect sync and harnesses an energy that captures even fans who have never heard of them, instantly turning them into new supporters.
Real Friends was the next band to take the stage, notching up the intensity once again. Hailing from Tinley Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the band was met with an eruption of excitement from the crowd at The Aura. The moment they launched into the opening notes of “Waiting Room” from their 2024 album Blue Hour, the pit opened up and crowd surfers began launching themselves over the rail. A perfect blend of Broadside and Greyhaven, Real Friends channeled the best elements of both bands and delivered their own brand of emotionally charged pop-punk emo.
The night was packed with standout moments. Cody Muraro stood on the rail, singing with fans. Ollie Baxter returned to the stage for a surprise duet on The Used’s “Taste of Ink.” One of the most unforgettable scenes came when Cody stepped into the middle of the crowd, surrounded by cell phone flashlights, as everyone sang along to “I’ve Given Up On You.” It was a rare quiet moment that gave fans a chance to slow down and pour every ounce of emotion into the lyrics.
Their 12-song setlist was a rollercoaster of energy and feeling, ending with their 2022 single “Tell Me You’re Sorry.” Be sure to check out the acoustic version of that track on their 2023 album There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late. It has a different vibe, more stripped back and intimate, but just as powerful.
The crowd was fully amped by the time Silverstein took the stage. The tour, titled 25 Years of Noise, is a perfect reflection of the band’s massive and ever-evolving discography. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Silverstein is celebrating their “silver” anniversary this year. While many bands are hitting the road to revisit early albums, Silverstein took a more interactive approach—letting fans vote on the songs they wanted to hear, shaping a setlist that spans their entire career. A perfect way to get the fans to feel more connected to the music they will be hearing.The show kicked off with a video montage reflecting on the past 25 years, taking fans on a journey through where the band started, the work they put in, and the unwavering dedication their fans have brought to every show. The energy in the room surged as Shane Told (vocals), Paul Marc Rousseau (guitar), Josh Bradford (guitar), Billy Hamilton (bass), and Paul Koehler (drums) took the stage. The crowd erupted as the band launched into “Skin and Bones,” a track from their brand new 2025 album Antibloom. You’d never guess the album had just been released in February—the audience sang every word back with passion and precision. The set continued with another new single, “Confession,” showcasing the band’s signature style. Antibloom marks an evolution in Silverstein’s sound. It holds onto the catchy hooks that fans have come to love while embracing the crushing breakdowns that have become a defining part of their legacy.
The setlist featuring over 20 songs from their discography was set up to start with the newest album and work their way back 25 years to the oldest album with “Bleeds No More” off their 2003 album When Broken is Easily Fixed that features that beautiful balance of heavy screams and melodies that blend so perfectly together in the post-hardcore emo world.
One of the most unforgettable moments of the night came when Shane Told stepped forward with an acoustic guitar to play “My Heroine.” The entire venue sang in unison, voices echoing with raw emotion. As the song built, the full band rejoined, and during the final chorus, they stepped back and let the crowd take over. Hearing thousands of fans sing together with such passion created a moment of pure magic. It wasn’t just a performance. It was a community pouring its heart out.
And that is what this genre has always been about. Post-hardcore and emo rock create a space where emotion isn’t hidden. It is screamed, sung, and shared. Bands like Silverstein don’t just deliver music. They give voice to fans who have fought through darkness, heartbreak, and healing. Through the raw screams and emotional choruses, they remind us that we are not alone and that our voices deserve to be heard.
The 25 Years of Noise Tour continues through the end of May before the band heads into the summer festival circuit, including a stop at the revived Vans Warped Tour. You can catch Silverstein live at Warped Tour in Washington DC on June 14 and 15, or in Long Beach, California on July 26 and 27. If you needed a reason to hit up Vans Warped Tour this year, seeing Silverstein in concert is the perfect excuse.
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