Article Contributed by Nick Gumas
Published on November 9, 2025
photos by Nick Gumas
As fans poured through the gates of Zilker park for a second day at Austin City Limits, little could dull the sense of excitement felt by the tens of thousands in attendance. The raging Texas heat wave proved little deterrence to the eager fans who showed up early to experience the eclectic lineup featuring music from so many decades and genres.
Easing the crowd into the day on the Miller Light stage, Australian psychedelic reggae rock outfit Ocean Alley welcomed the audience through the gates with their unique brand of upbeat, yet laid back, jams. Opening with their 2025 hit “Tangerine,” their style of performance immediately felt comfortingly nostalgic, yet nuanced and revitalizing. Baden Donegal and company’s stage presence were nothing short of electric as they gave fans a full account of their discography, with a set that included “Confidence,” “Yellow Mellow,” and “Touch Back Down.”
Prompting swarms of mosh pits to break out in Zilker Park, legacy post-hardcore act Pierce the Veil put on an exemplary clinic on the hardcore genre to all in attendance. Showcasing the fruits of their two decades of experience playing together, the Warped Tour alums commanded the attention of the crowd from the moment they stepped onstage to begin their show with their 2023 single “Death of an Executioner.” Embodying the music of a pivotal generation of bands to turn their angst into art, their energetic stage presence set the standard for scream-centric vocal delivery and eccentric upbeat instrumentality. Showcasing their growth as a project over the years, the band performed a full range of music from across their many albums, including “Bulls in the Bronx,” “So Far So Fake,” and “Circles.” The group made sure to go out with an immediately recognizable hit, as a melodic guitar scale chimed to introduce their grand finale, their 2012 single “King for a Day.”
One of the best attended shows on one of the festival’s more intimate stages, psychedelic rock solo act Djo lived up to all expectations with their immersive performance. Known largely for his work as a leading actor on the hit Netflix show Stranger Things, Massachusetts creative Joe Keery showcased his outstandingly deep bench of talents with an immensely anticipated set on the Lady Bird stage. Walking onstage with an acoustic guitar under an ominous deep red light, he slowly strummed his introductory number, “Awake” as suspense built through the verses. Switching between instruments consistently throughout the hour, he jumped behind a keyboard and injected an upbeat flare to the set as they continued with their upbeat track “Uglyfisherman.” Anchored in an instrumental tone that embodied a retro sense of warmth, coupled with thoughtful and poetic lyrical sensibility, crowds were enthralled as the artist blazed through a set that included “Basic Being Basic,” “Listen,” and “Egg.” Closing their performance with a bang, the artist ended with their most recognizable original piece and sent audiences off with their 2022 hit “End of Beginning.”
Sending audiences home with one of the most celebrated legacy acts imaginable, New York alternative powerhouse The Strokes ended the night on the T-Mobile stage with a performance that showcased the group’s almost 30 years of collaboration. Embodying a nonchalant and channeled approach to their performance, frontman Julian Casablancas remained composed and calm throughout his delivery from the moment he stepped onstage, his trademark distorted and grumbled style of delivery driving the show from the opening notes of their first song “What Ever Happened?” Far from the only hit to draw the attendees’ admiration, the show was full of their most recognizable tunes including “Last Night,” “Bad Decisions,” and “The Adults Are Talking.” Demonstrating that even after a lifetime of commercial success, their fans still remain at the forefront of their priorities, the band took the previous weekend’s audience setlist recommendations into consideration, performing their 2020 single “Ode To The Mets,” with Casablancas declaring its inclusion as a result of “Popular request of last week’s crowd.” Closing out the showstopping performance, the band sent audiences home with a thrashing rendition of their 2001 single “Take It or Leave It,” the crowd having every opportunity to empty their tank of energy while dancing along to the pulsating melody.
Check out more photos from Austin City Limits Day Two.
