Playing the Bay Area for the first time in just under two years, AFI returned to the Fox Theater stage (and their home turf) with the same unrelenting energy and theatricality that has defined their career for nearly three decades. Performing in front of a beyond sold-out crowd, Davey Havok and his band reminded everyone why they remain one of the most captivating live acts in alternative music.
Opening their set with the one-two-three punch of “Strength Through Wounding,” “Girl’s Not Grey,” and “Love Like Winter,” the band sent the crowd into an instant frenzy. Havok, ever the magnetic frontman, commanded the stage with balletic precision—his every movement deliberate, his every lyric delivered with conviction. Guitarist Jade Puget’s razor-sharp riffs cut through the mix with a clarity that made even the oldest songs feel vital again, while Hunter Burgan and Adam Carson’s rhythm section kept the chaos grounded and driving.
The setlist was a perfect blend of eras: longtime fans were treated to early hardcore staples like “Malleus Maleficarum” alongside anthems from Sing The Sorrow and newer, moodier cuts from Bodies. Each song flowed seamlessly into the next, creating an atmosphere that was both nostalgic and alive with urgency.
The lighting and visuals were as meticulous as the music—cold strobes and blood-red hues bathing the stage in gothic intensity. Between songs, Havok’s connection with the audience was palpable; the room felt less like a concert and more like a communion.
By the time “Totalimmortal” closed the night, voices were hoarse, fists were raised, and no one wanted it to end. AFI proved once again that while musical trends may shift, their brand of dark romanticism and explosive passion remains timeless. This was not just a show—it was a reaffirmation of faith between band and fan.
