Knoxville’s Open Chord proved once again why it’s a favorite for intimate, high-impact shows. The venue’s crisp sound and relaxed, living-room-with-stage vibe set the scene for a genre-blurring evening of indie-pop hooks and alt-rock bite.The night kicked off with After Party and Glimmers, both offering shimmering melodies and lively stage chemistry, warming up the room with anthemic choruses and nostalgic pop-punk tones.
California’s Emblem3, now fronted by brothers Wesley and Keaton Stromberg alongside drummer Jack Mudd, packed their set with a mix of throwback hits and fresh new material. Alongside classics like “Sunset Blvd,” “Chloe,” and “3000 Miles,” the band spotlighted recent releases Black Lipstick Magic and Angel, each delivering a sleek, modern twist on their signature coastal pop-rock sound. A surprise mashup of “Chloe” with “Stacey’s Mom “sparked a room-wide singalong, while Jack’s punchy drumming added new energy to tracks like “Rush” and “Reason.”
Headlining the night, LA’s In Her Own Words brought pure pop-punk catharsis. Led by Joey Fleming’s emotionally-charged vocals and Andretti Almalel’s searing guitar leads, the band’s set was a punchy mix of personal anthems and driving riffs. Their latest single Sugarcoat, fresh off its May 30 drop via Thriller Records, hit especially hard live—its feverish lyrics about reckless infatuation feeling tailor-made for the intimate crowd.
Check Emblem3 in a city near you:
June 11, 2025 – The Rock Box, San Antonio, TX
June 12, 2025 – TX Tea Room, Dallas, TX
June 13, 2025 – 89th Street Collective, Oklahoma City, OK
June 14, 2025 – The Rino, North Kansas City, MO
June 15, 2025 – Off Broadway, St. Louis, MO
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