House of Music

Cohered and Cambria

Moody Amphitheater

Austin, TX

September 9th, 2025

Photos and Review by Roy Vergara

There’s something about Austin’s Moody Amphitheater that makes big nights feel even bigger. Set in the middle of Waterloo Park with the skyline peeking out over the trees, it seemed like an excellent place to get lost in nostalgia for a night. The audience was sprawling out on the open lawn, and squeezed into the pit, already buzzing before a single note had sounded.

Foxing went on at 6:30 pm, and they came out swinging with the opening notes. The St. Louis band balances raw emo emotion with soaring post-rock ambition, and they captured that duality perfectly. Before their third song, Conor Murphy leaned into the mic with a grin and warned, “If you don’t like screaming, you probably won’t like this one.” The pit erupted in cheers and I could feel everyone around me bracing for the hit. Their performance was heartfelt, cathartic, and expansive, the ideal opener for the night.

At 7:25 pm, the lights dropped and an intro video rolled with old behind-the-scenes clips of Taking Back Sunday’s early days. Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” blasted through the speakers, and the entire amphitheater joined in a fun-loving singalong. When the video ended, the group walked out in matching gray suit jackets and pants, all except for Fred Mascherino who returned to the lineup in his own style. The roar that greeted him was deafening. Adam Lazzara made sure the moment hit home, grinning as Fred admitted, “It’s great to be back, and I didn’t think this would happen again.”

Adam didn’t stay in the suit long, peeling off his jacket and launching into the signature mic swings that cut through the stage lights like instinct. “John Nolan couldn’t be here tonight,” he told us. “But I was fortunate enough to find this family outside of my own. We’ve been leaning on you, thank you very much.” It was a moment that reminded us this was more than nostalgia, it was about community.

The set leaned into fan favorites, with the crowd shouting every word of “You’re So Last Summer” and later erupting during “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team).” By the time the band closed with “MakeDamnSure” at 8:30 pm, the entire amphitheater was shaking with energy and voices. Before walking off, Adam thanked Austin: “Thank you for a fantastic evening. You’ve given me a place to get lost, and I hope you’ve experienced that too.”

At 9:00 pm, Coheed & Cambria turned the amphitheater into another universe. Claudio Sanchez and the rest of the band walked out and immediately pulled us into their sprawling world. The set moved between newer songs and classics, each one a chapter in the Amory Wars saga they’ve spent decades building.

After a few songs into the set, the stage shifted into something surreal. A massive glowing skeleton with a spiked mohawk inflated behind the band, with its goggles pulsating between hearts and dollar signs. The crowd roared in disbelief, phones shooting into the air, but most of us just stood wide-eyed, soaking in the spectacle.

The night only grew more powerful. “A Favor House Atlantic” turned the amphitheater into a choir, every voice raised and straining with joy. By the time “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3” hit, the energy was so immense it felt like the ground itself was trembling beneath us.

At 10:05 pm the encore began with Claudio walking out alone for “Corner My Confidence,” his voice carrying over a silent amphitheater. The band then flipped the mood with a surprise cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” which sent the lawn into a celebration and dancing as thousands shouted along. For a moment it felt like the night might end there, but Coheed had one more card to play. As the last chords faded, Claudio stepped forward and ripped into “Welcome Home,” the towering closer that shook Moody Amphitheater to its core. It was the true finale, massive and cathartic, and it sent fans spilling into the Austin night buzzing with adrenaline.

Foxing opened the door with heart and ambition, Taking Back Sunday filled it with nostalgia and connection, and Coheed & Cambria closed it with pure spectacle. Each band gave a part of themselves, and the crowd left carrying a little bit of all three.

Check out the gallery below to relive the night or see what you missed.

Foxing

Taking Back Sunday

Coheed and Cambria