Presented by Capital One and hosted by The Woody Show, ALTer Ego had some of the biggest names in alt/punk rock history performing at The Kia Forum this year. The bands set to play this legendary Los Angeles show were Cage The Elephant, Almost Monday, Mt. Joy, Good Charlotte, Gigi Perez, Sublime, Twenty One Pilots, and Green Day. Truly one of my favorite lineups of all time. I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to hear so many of my favorite songs on the same night — core memory made for sure.

By the time I got to my seat, I could tell how packed general admission was and how eager everyone was for the show to finally start. There were fans of all ages displaying their favorite artists’ merch proudly and confidently. From Green Day foam fingers and Twenty One Pilots’ hoodies to light-up Sims Plumbob headbands and everything in between, I loved seeing what everyone brought. I’m not sure why, but I was surprised to see a lot of old tour shirts floating around. Shirts from old tours of Twenty One Pilots, Sublime, and Green Day were all seen, and it really helped give my night a nostalgic feeling, even though I had never been to ALTer Ego in the past.

Honestly, I am still in awe of how many of my favorite bands I got to see in one night. Little me would never believe it! ALTer Ego is truly like no other show out there.

Opening the night with some bangers from Cage The Elephant really got the crowd riled up and ready for the night. It’s been a couple of years since they took the stage in LA, and they did not disappoint. They played their biggest hits, featuring “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” “Cigarette Daydreams,” and “Come a Little Closer.” The lasers and mesmerizing lights filled the arena and painted the crowd in beautiful blues, purples, and reds as they sang and danced along.

Their set also featured some crazy pyro, which lit up the stage and really got the crowd excited.

They created a fun and energetic atmosphere, which was the perfect way to start off the night!

Following Cage The Elephant was Almost Monday’s ALTer Ego debut! It was their first time performing for this specific festival, and they knew how to keep the crowd going! Dawson Daughertry, the lead singer, quickly took control of the stage with his groovy dance moves and lively energy. It felt like he was born to be up on stage! He had people all the way in the back clapping and dancing to every song. I’m definitely a new fan!

After Almost Monday’s set, Booker and Stryker made a special appearance on stage and introduced Mt. Joy, who was an incredible last-minute addition to the festival! “Lucy” was mentioned as a favorite that is often played on the radio. 

During the second or third song, Matt Quinn (Lead singer) brought up special guest Gigi Perez, and they performed together, basking in eye-catching colors that illuminated from above them. They sounded incredible together as they re-energized the crowd. After their song together, Matt continued his set without Gigi and brought up his pace a little bit. He began performing faster, more upbeat songs, which perfectly matched the energy of the venue. Mt. Joy had an incredible performance, leaving us all looking forward to the rest of the night.

After almost 10 years of not performing in LA, Good Charlotte blessed the city of angels with some of their biggest hits. As soon as people saw their dark silhouettes walking out on stage, they started screaming and cheering in anticipation. The boys immediately had everyone up and out of their chairs, jumping around by opening up their set with their iconic song, “The Anthem,” and it doesn’t stop there! They continued pleasing the crowd by playing more of their smash hits, including “Girls & Boys,” “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love,” and “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.” The whole stadium was filled, and nobody dared to miss their set! They did an amazing job keeping the audience engaged by asking questions like whose first time it was seeing them, and asking the fans in the nosebleeds how they were doing. Their vibrant and energetic performance fired up everyone in the venue, setting up the perfect atmosphere for the next act.

Gigi Perez made her debut at ALTer Ego! Yes, you heard that right! Another debut for this year’s ALTer Ego! Her voice filled the arena as everyone lit up the space around them with their cellphones’ flash. Between songs I noticed Gigi would switch from acoustic guitar to electric guitar and I think that helped balance out her set so we weren’t hearing the same tones back to back. She did a wonderful job using the whole stage and made sure both sides got the attention that was needed. Towards the end of her set she invited her sister up on stage to sing with her. What a cute moment to share on stage! They had me in tears. Gigi finished off her set with her most known song, “Sailor Song” and she did not disappoint. It sounded amazing live and I’m itching to listen to her live again!

As soon as the next band’s name was mentioned, the arena was overwhelmed by cheers and excitement. With a huge inflatable dog on each side of the stage, Jakob Nowell, lead singer of Sublime, rolled out on stage ready to rock on his new scooter. Jakob suffered a knee injury during a show in late 2025 but he refused to miss ALTer Ego and delivered an unforgettable set. From a moment of silence to pay tribute to his father, Sublime’s previous lead singer, to playing their biggest hits like “Santeria,” Jakob had the audience captivated and engaged. He did an amazing job honoring Sublime’s history and traditions.

Twenty One Pilots followed up with some fun pyrotechnics and knew how to work the crowd. From being held up by fans while drumming on top of them, to running up into the bleachers and weaving through the crowd, the iconic duo kept everyone on their toes excited for more. 

Green Day ended the night and delivered a striking performance, making important statements reflecting present times and the need for change. Billy Joe Armstrong always knows how to send a strong message with his music and that’s exactly what he did during his set. He had the crowd roaring with him as confetti filled the arena indicating the finale of an incredible night.