- RETURN TO DUST w/Druidess + Identity Crisis
- 04/27/2026 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
- ©Justin Nuoffer
On a warm and humid day in the capital city of Madison, Wisconsin, a buzz was in the air. An abnormal streak of warmth brought out all sorts of people, and the city was alive. Tucked on the backside of a building with multiple businesses, the High Noon Saloon had a line out into the parking lot with fans eager to get in and have a few post-work beverages and conversations.
Once the doors opened, the small entryway became a quick, noninvasive security checkpoint, and turning a hard left, you entered into the main room. To the left is the tour merchandise, and along that wall is a large bar with various beers and liquors. Straight ahead is a stage standing a few feet off of the ground with no barricade. You are quite literally within inches of the bands. The stage is small, and the room is too. The balcony at the back of the room gives an overview of everything below and is also a great place to simply watch from.
With a set of barricades on the side of the stage, fans got nice and close in front of the stage for the South Texas band Identity Crisis. The four-piece is a straightforward hard rock band with an alternative rock flair. Within the first few notes, they had the Madison crowd nodding along to their sound.
The band carried such a strong early 90s vibe that they pulled off a Pearl Jam cover early on with relative ease. In fact, the influence of the legendary band is heavily implied, and it worked beautifully. Whether it was a classic rock ballad or an up-tempo banger, Identity Crisis let it rip. Their single “Starve,” only a month old, already had a few people singing along. The young band clearly connected with fans. Rocking the early set, they left no doubt that they will make noise in the years to come.
The Montreal native Druidess, whose name is a takeoff of the Type O Negative song “Be My Druidess,” is a band that wears its influences on its sleeve. Members go by single names, and Biess on vocals is an uncontrollable force who threw his body around and never stood still. In contrast, Lennox and Vera on bass and guitar, respectively, were much more controlled and simply swayed, allowing the music to carry their presence. On drums, Valentine smashed away with his head down but would occasionally lean back before crashing down on his cymbals.
Druidess is four pieces in very different motion that culminate in one cohesive-sounding machine. Their set was split between two albums, The Product of My Love and their latest release, All You Are. Opening with “Blackhole” and “Second Chance,” the band delivered an instant dose of unpredictability. Biess flew around the stage with his long, wavy blonde hair flailing in every direction. His voice rarely stayed in one place, but his screams were a work of art, and with “Vacancy,” he let his singing take the lead.
Check out the Druidess concert photo gallery here:
He was not afraid to address the audience either, stating, “Every decision you’ve made in your entire life has led you to this exact moment. This song is called Forever Never.” The track hit home with a slower, bruising pace. The steady tempo kept eyes locked on the stage. Following it up with “Lavender” and closing with “Hit Me” showcased every genre bend Druidess is known for. From shoegaze to metal to grunge, the band could not be boxed into one thing. It was genuinely inspiring to witness that level of uniqueness.
Los Angeles rockers Return To Dust made their second headlining stop at the High Noon Saloon in November of 2024, a stop we covered. This time, they returned with a batch of new material and noticeable growth. The band has been touring consistently since their run with Chevelle helped launch their rise. Opening with “Black Road” and “Shine,” the full-throttle hard rock style of Return To Dust was off and running. What makes the band unique is the dual vocals of guitarist Matty Bielawski and bassist Graham Stanush. Both switch off leads and complement each other with different vocal ranges. That layering alone makes them stand out.
Their setlist was a mix of their full-length, self-titled album and their 2025 Speak Like the Dead EP. The show was sectioned into different flows and moods. The first portion leaned into guitar-driven rock songs like “Face Down,” “Abyss,” “Disarray,” and “New Religion.” The influence of 90s grunge was evident, with their dual vocals often evoking the feel of Alice in Chains. The low stage height created an old-school, free-for-all atmosphere. Bielawski’s higher register echoed through the High Noon Saloon, his long hair tucked behind his ears as he sang and screamed through the opening stretch.
To his right, guitarist Sebastian Gonzalez was constantly in motion. He had no issue jumping, headbanging, and letting loose while playing. Gonzalez clearly carried the lead-guitar role, his fingers dancing across the frets as his foot worked the pedalboard. Throughout the set, he played with intensity, but during their cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya,” he dialed it back to have fun with the crowd. The stripped-down rock version landed well, with fans singing along and embracing the moment. The tone matched the first section of the set surprisingly well.
Stanush took a moment to address the crowd, saying, “We don’t get a whole lot of opportunities to do some special stuff for the set, so, you know, it’s our second headliner ever, so thanks for coming.” This marked a shift into a more stripped-down segment. Songs like “Anyway I Die” and “Strangers” slowed things down and let the audience absorb the band’s grunge-leaning sound. It was also a chance for drummer London Hudson to deliver a captivating solo, giving the rest of the band a breather before the heavier second half.
That second half is where Return To Dust leaned into its grit. Launching into “About The World” and “Summer Rain,” the riffs carried a smooth, vintage quality. The High Noon Saloon grew more chaotic as fans clapped, chanted, and screamed along. Bielawski and Stanush remained locked in vocally while also engaging with fans at the front of the stage during “Downfall.” Stanush’s bass work was especially powerful, rattling the venue with each note.
After a brief pause, the band asked the crowd what they wanted to hear. Voices shouted from every direction, but “Bored” clearly won out. The track, in regular rotation on local radio, was paired with “Belly Up” to keep the momentum rolling. During “Belly Up,” Stanush jumped off the stage and played from the middle of the crowd as fans surrounded him, capturing the moment on their phones.
Check out the Return To Dust concert photo gallery below:
The band then exited the stage, prompting chants of “One more song” to echo throughout the venue. As the chants grew louder, Return To Dust came back out to close the night with “Cellophane” and “When You Look at Me.” As a live act, the band is incredibly engaging. Their chemistry and ability to play off each other set them apart from many young rock bands working their way up. It is no surprise they are landing spots on major festival lineups. If anything, it is worth catching them in smaller venues while you still can, because they are clearly on their way to much bigger stages.
Catch Return To Dust on the Road…
