AFI
9/30/25 – The Sylvee – Madison, Wisconsin
©Justin Nuoffer/NuofferMedia.com
The city of Madison, Wisconsin, was alive with energy. The streets and restaurant patios were filled with people enjoying another gorgeous fall evening in the state’s capital. The Sylvee stood tall with its large glass siding and wrap-around marquee that read: “AFI Tonight.” Fans had lined up early, the crowd stretching down toward the corner of the block. Golden sunlight gleamed off the building, allowing people to soak in the last warm rays as they waited.
Below the marquee, the glass doors opened, and everyone was ushered through the security checkpoint. The process was quick and painless. Next came the ticket check, and just like that, you were in.
To the right, the AFI merchandise stand was packed with goodies. A line formed quickly, stretching across the room in the blink of an eye. A bar ran the length of the entire back wall, and bartenders were busy from the get-go.
Moving forward into the venue, a set of stairs led down to the sub-level general admission floor. Straight ahead stood a massive stage, all set up and ready to go. On the second level, the standing-room GA area buzzed with activity, as did the two rows of seating that wrapped around the entire space. Up on the third deck were suites, offering a perfect view of everything below.
Opening the evening’s festivities was TR/ST, the brainchild of Robert Alfons. The electronic project has released five albums and a self-titled EP. The stage setup was simple: synthesizers stood on the left side, while a drum kit on a small riser sat mid-stage. Alfons quickly set the digital tracks for his performance and would jump down to the microphone at center stage to deliver his deep, flat vocals, which allowed the music to set the true mood.
Heavy, dark vibes flowed over the audience, giving them the chance to dance and let the sound overrun their senses. TR/ST put listeners into a different frame of mind, letting the electronics and drums become characters of their own. It was a worthy experience.
With this being the first stop of the tour, Madison was on notice to set the tone. AFI arrived at The Sylvee poised to unleash a brand-new album in just a few days, and anticipation for the fresh music buzzed through the crowd. Over the years, the band has evolved through different phases of life and style, each album a distinct step forward. No two records are alike, and that’s exactly what makes AFI great. The setlist reflected that evolution, blending their recent direction with flashes of their early history.
Opening with “Girl’s Not Grey” instantly sent the venue into a frenzy. The classic track from Sing the Sorrow remains a massive fan favorite, with voices and screams echoing through the air as the band darted around the stage, leaping onto the pedestals at their microphones. The harmonies and choruses hit with chills, proving that after twenty-eight years, AFI is still delivering at full force in Madison.
The stage lighting, awash in deep purples and reds, was clearly chosen to amplify the mood, though the band hardly needed help commanding the room. AFI’s presence was nonstop. During “Love Like Winter” and “End Transmission,” Davey Havok whipped his microphone through the air, dancing across his pedestal with relentless energy. He kept crowd interaction brief, but his simple greeting, “Hello, Madison,” was enough to send the room into chaos. It also served as the lead-in to “Behind the Clock,” the first single from their upcoming album Silver Bleeds the Black Sun, due out in just days. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with fans on the main floor dancing freely.
The high only grew during “The Boy Who Destroyed the World” from the All Hallow’s EP, where rare crowd surfers began appearing one after another. Jade Puget slung his guitar effortlessly, a master at work, and his riff drove the live debut of “Marguerite.” For once, a smirk crossed his typically stoic face as the crowd embraced the new track wholeheartedly.
As the set moved through “Beautiful Thieves” and “Escape from Los Angeles,” the latest single, “Holy Visions,” took hold. Its harmonies echoed hauntingly around The Sylvee, carrying an almost spectral weight. AFI’s passion for their craft was undeniable, every ounce of sweat and energy poured into the performance…no theatrics, just pure love for their art.
An AFI staple, “A Single Second,” revved things up again as drummer Adam Carson drove the tempo higher. Old-school fans blended with newer ones in a unified celebration, the floor moving like waves beneath them. The momentum held strong as “17 Crimes” and “Snow Cats” followed. Deeper cuts that sparked loud cheers and surprised exclamations of “No way!” from the crowd.
With the homestretch of songs underway, Hunter Burgan’s floor-shaking low end roared to life as AFI unleashed the rare setlist gem “Rabbits Are Roadkill on RY. 37.” The Decemberunderground cut carried the same shock factor as earlier highlights, with fans pressed against the barricade, arms outstretched, shouting every word. It set the perfect stage for “I Hope You Suffer.” The electronic-rock anthem saw Havok’s vocals soaring over dark, dystopian lyrics that hit like a relentless gut punch. The moody lighting shifted yet again, layering the atmosphere into a full-on assault of sound and visuals.
Then, in a blink, the script flipped, AFI launched into “The Days of the Phoenix.” The legendary punk anthem felt heavier, sharper, and more refined than ever, its chorus echoing like a battle cry for the faithful. The floor erupted, bodies bouncing as the crowd’s unified voice reached piercing levels. Few bands can make a song feel just as impactful every time it’s played, no matter how many times fans have witnessed it live.
And then, silence. The inevitable encore break loomed.
With the crowd whipped up, the band retook the stage for a two-song encore. Havok asked if the crowd wanted to hear another new song, announcing it as “The Bird of Prey,” making its live debut. Paget picked up an acoustic guitar for the first time all evening, leading a track with a unique and creative vocal pattern. The song was exceptional, something fresh and different from their massive catalog.
They closed with “Silver and Cold,” bringing the house down. The strength and power shown until the very last note is what makes this band so great. From flashes of days past to a full-on rock show to a dance-floor atmosphere, their creativity and body of work filled the hearts and minds of everyone in the room.
Check out the AFI concert photo gallery below:
As the evening closed with a bang, the spirit was alive and refueled. This night’s performance was art on a different level. Everyone found a little something they came for. AFI is an amalgamation. People from all walks of life meeting as one. With the heaviness of the outside world looming, it didn’t matter inside that venue. The faces of happiness and glee walking out onto the sidewalks of Madison brought one simple lyric to mind: “Through our bleeding, we are one.”
