On Tuesday night, a week into Scowl and Sunami’s co-headlining tour, the five band bill showed SOMA Mainstage how hardcore can unite and bring a community together.

Opening the show was local hardcore five-piece, Hereditary, breaking it down for new listeners and showing the out-of-town fans and bands that San Diego shows out for their scene. Scene frequenters were moshing, two-stepping and joining together to shout-out the lyrics for tracks like “NOT THE SAME” and more off their recent self-titled album release. 

Next, the packed house welcomed the Bangkok, Thailand based hardcore outfit Whispers, prompting nothing but sheer violence and headbanging. Whispers is known for their unique sound self-labeled as “Bangkok Evilcore,” and their set revealed exactly how that term translates to real-life performances. From the pummeling drums and heavily assaulting guitar riffs, to the energizing breakdowns and thrashing guitar solos, Whispers brought a new definition to hardcore, one that witnessing fans will be threatened to remember. Whispers has only played San Diego a few times prior, and surely listeners will be awaiting their return.

Breaking up the solidity of the five band hardcore bill, was the three-piece shoegaze act Midrift, hailing from the Bay Area in San Francisco. Pulling elements from alternative and indie-rock with blown out Drop D riffs and a sonic sound that feels like a moody and distortion-drenched submersion in static, their playlist of cult-classics like “Twin Flames” had the viral act enchanting the audience for the duration of their full set.

Co-headlining was Scowl, and as usual their infectious energy from frontperson Kat Moss, and unique sound blending abrasive hardcore with pop-hooks and softer melodies, washed over the crowd. The band played all the tracks that originally brought them to their point of fame, and mixed in a few of their latest releases like “Not Hell, Not Heaven,” off their 2025 album Are We All Angels. Scowl has stated before their music is “hardcore for the freaks,” and this fully crowded show got a first-hand experience of the jaggedy-punk, rock ragers played that serve as a testament to their statement.

Closing out the night was San Jose popular, Sunami. Sunami seemingly blew up overnight, with such massive growth seen in 2022, where the band nearly sold-out every show they played post COVID-19. In part for drawing in the large crowd on Tuesday, Sunami played for their fans. Putting on a show encouraging crowd-surfing, circle pits, two-stepping and harcore dancing, the band played famous tracks “Y.A.B.,” “Weak Die First” and “Contempt of Cop,” to name a few. Anyone who missed this show is sure to mark their calendars and buy pre-sale tickets, for the next time San Diego hosts such a stacked lineup.