WASHINGTON D.C. — Stereophonics, a wildly impressive Welsh rock band, kicked off their three-year tour hiatus by headlining the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2025.

Stereophonics brought a high energy, sophisticated classic rock sound to the DMV that teetered into alternative rock territory. Their opener, Witches Exist, started the night with a low-key stage presence infused with spooky vibes. In a stark juxtaposition to the high energy headliner, the opener had little movement across stage, with bobbing heads here and there and mostly looking at the ground while they played. Still, their musicality and unique enchanting sound was on par with the seasoned pros they were opening for.

This was the first time Witches Exist performed in Washington, D.C., and they shared that this was the first time they performed for a crowd that was sitting.

“We’re old!” shouted an audience member in return. While the self-proclaimed “old” crowd was seated for Witches Exist (perhaps to save their knees), most of the audience — even stretching into the upper balcony — was standing, swaying, and dancing to Stereophonics all night long. 

Stereophonics’ setlist spanned an impressive multi-decade run, with early 2000s hits like “Have a Nice Day” paired with new songs like “There’s Always Gonna be Something.” Nearly everywhere you looked, you saw groups of middle-aged men swaying with their arms around each other during Stereophonics’ relentless hit after hit. It seems that Stereophonics tapped into a high school-esque nostalgia with their mostly adult fanbase.

Throughout the night, the audience was singing along with Stereophonics, including finishing lines in songs like “Maybe Tomorrow” and “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio.” Front man Kelly Jones flexed powerful vocals with hit “Mr. Writer.” He then took the audience on a trip down memory lane with “Boy on a Bike,” which Jones said was a song meant for when things are tough in your life and you need to calm down.

Stereophonics included no shortage of electrifying guitar riffs throughout the night, even steering away from the classic rock sound to include impressive trumpet solos for the jazz enthusiasts in the crowd and a soft-hearted ukulele solo. 

After an impressive setlist, Stereophonics came back for an encore with songs including “Local Boy in the Photograph” and their mega hit “Dakota” that left the audience clapping along until the very end. It was an impressive night of full-bodied vocals and dazzling classic rock shredding that started their tour off on an incredible high note.