House of Music

Cartel

Mohawk

Austin, TX

October 15th, 2025

Photos and Review by Roy Vergara

Mohawk’s outdoor patio filled early as fans gathered to celebrate twenty years of Chroma, the album that introduced Cartel’s infectious melodies and emotional honesty. The night mixed nostalgia with renewed energy as people packed close beneath the Austin lights, ready to relive a record that defined a generation of pop-rock.

The show opened with Macseal, whose intricate rhythms and upbeat sound brought a warm start to the evening. Their tight performance and genuine energy set the perfect tone as the crowd trickled in. Hunny followed with sleek California charm, mixing humor and swagger. “Macseal is my favorite band so give it up to them,” their bassist shouted, earning cheers from the crowd before joking about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson being an honorary Austin local. Their playful banter kept the mood light and the audience fully engaged.

When Cartel took the stage at 8:47 pm, the crowd roared as the opening chords of “Say Anything (Else)” cut through the air. From that moment, Mohawk became a chorus of voices singing every lyric back. The band played Chroma front to back, their performance tight and full of life. Songs like “Faster Ride,” “Runaway,” and “Burn This City” hit with the same force they carried twenty years ago.

Midway through the set came a highlight with “Save Us.” As the song built, fans lifted their phones in unison, turning the patio into a sea of light. The band paused to take a photo with the crowd, smiling at the energy radiating back at them. Will Pugh then asked the audience to vote on a deep cut, leading to “Matter of Time,” a moment that connected both long-time fans and newcomers.

Later, Will grinned and said, “Y’all are football fans, we’re calling an audible,” before dedicating “Conduit” to Danny, their merch attendant. It was spontaneous and full of warmth, the kind of unscripted moment that gives a show its heartbeat.

The main set wrapped at 9:54 pm, but the crowd’s cheers pulled the band back within a minute. They launched into “Perfect Mistake,” and Will smiled mid-song, asking, “This the song you were waiting for?” The audience answered with one unified shout. Before closing, he took a moment to reflect: “No idea how much this means to us. Every show exceeds expectations. This isn’t the last time you’ll see us play. We’re back in it, and this is the most excited we’ve ever been about this band.”

Cartel may have started in Atlanta, but Austin made them feel right at home. Their Chroma anniversary set was more than a trip down memory lane. It was proof that the songs still live and breathe with the same heart they had twenty years ago.

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

Macseal

Hunny

Cartel