The When We Were Young festival returned to Las Vegas this past October, and fans poured into the desert like a tide of nostalgia. October 18–19, 2025, marked the festival’s fourth edition, bringing together alt-rock, pop-punk, emo, and indie fans for two days of singalongs, surprise appearances, and unforgettable collaborations. The energy was palpable from the moment gates opened, and attendees, some dressed in tees from the early 2000s, knew they were about to relive their teenage years while discovering new music along the way.
The lineup was a carefully curated mix of legends and rising stars. Headliners Blink‑182 and Panic! At The Disco anchored the weekend, while Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, The Gaslight Anthem, The Used, All Time Low, and Knocked Loose added both nostalgia and variety. Yet two moments dominated conversations long after the festival ended: the speculation over Ryan Ross’s potential appearance with Panic! At The Disco and the surprise onstage collaboration between Blondshell and Weezer.
Panic! At The Disco: The anticipated return
For many attendees, Panic! At The Disco’s return was the weekend’s highlight. After the band officially dissolved in 2023, their scheduled performance at WWWY felt like a one-night reunion. The promise of hearing A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out live, complete with hits like “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and “Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off,” sent fans into a frenzy weeks before the festival even began.
Adding fuel to the fire was speculation about Ryan Ross. Ross, who left the band in 2009, had not performed with Panic! live in over a decade. Fans flooded social media and forums with rumors and theories: “Imagine if Ryan just walks out on stage…” one post read, garnering hundreds of likes. Festival announcements never confirmed his attendance, but the possibility alone created anticipation and a sense of suspense that hung over the desert air.
When the band finally hit the stage, Brendon Urie was the sole performer. While some fans were initially disappointed that Ross had not returned, Urie’s theatrical energy and powerhouse vocals quickly silenced doubts. The audience sang along to every word, jumping and waving arms in unison. The early setlist emphasized their most iconic album, but Urie also threw in theatrical flourishes, costume changes, and choreographed moments that transformed the performance into a full-blown spectacle.
Hailey Gibbs, a fan from Phoenix, described the experience: “When the band started ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies,’ everyone lost it. It was like being 16 again, screaming lyrics with thousands of strangers who felt exactly the same way. I’ll never forget the energy.”
Even without Ross, the performance highlighted the emotional resonance Panic! held for fans. The mix of nostalgia, suspense, and Urie’s relentless stage presence made the set a defining moment of WWWY 2025.
Where is Ryan Ross?
The ongoing conversation around Ross’s possible participation underscored the festival’s cultural weight. Ross co-wrote and performed on many of Panic!’s early hits, and his departure marked a pivotal moment for the band and its fans. When social media lit up with speculation, it wasn’t just idle chatter — it reflected a longing for closure, reunion, and connection to a formative musical era.
“I kept checking the lineup and the backstage updates,” said Jordan Miles, a fan from Los Angeles. “Even without him showing up, the hope was part of the magic. Everyone was holding their breath, imagining what it would have been like if he walked out.”
While Ross ultimately did not appear, the mere discussion highlighted how WWWY bridges nostalgia with live music suspense. Fans collectively experienced the thrill of “what might happen,” which is part of the festival’s enduring appeal.
Blondshell and Weezer: A surprise collaboration
If Panic!’s performance anchored the festival, Blondshell’s appearance with Weezer became its most talked-about moment. During Weezer’s set, indie-rock artist Blondshell, also known as Sabrina Mae Teitelbaum, emerged on stage to perform “I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams” alongside the band. Fans erupted in applause and cheers as two generations of alternative rock collided onstage.
Social media exploded with clips of the collaboration. TikTok and Instagram videos captured screaming crowds, flashing lights, and Blondshell’s impassioned delivery. For many, it was a moment that blended past and present, signaling that the legacy of alt-rock and emo is being carried forward by new voices.
Festival-goer Lena Rivera described the moment: “I wasn’t expecting Blondshell at all. When she started singing with Weezer, it felt like the past and future collided. Everyone around me was cheering, crying, and singing along. That moment will stick with me forever.”
Fan experiences: Fashion, signage, and shared nostalgia
WWWY isn’t just about the music — it’s about the immersive experience. Walking the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, fans were transported back to the mid-2000s. Tie-dye, studded belts, Vans, Converse, layered wristbands, and band tees flooded the crowd. Attendees carried signs reading “Bring Back Ryan Ross” and “Fever You Can’t Sweat Out Forever,” creating a shared visual language of devotion and memory.
Lines at merch tents stretched for hours, with fans eager to grab limited-edition vinyl, festival tees, enamel pins, and posters. Food trucks offered classic festival fare, while the main stages pulsed with lights and sound that amplified both nostalgia and excitement. The festival’s setup encouraged exploration: multiple stages allowed attendees to move between headliners, emerging bands, and surprise performances, ensuring that the weekend was packed with discovery.
Smaller acts and rising stars
While the headliners drew the largest crowds, smaller acts contributed to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere. Bands like Knocked Loose, The Used, and All Time Low reminded attendees that WWWY isn’t purely retrospective; it also spotlights the present and future of emo, alt-rock, and pop-punk. Fans discovered new sounds, shared playlists, and bonded over the discovery of music they might not have encountered otherwise.
Blondshell’s collaboration with Weezer exemplified this ethos. Her stage presence brought indie sensibilities to a legacy band’s set, bridging generational gaps and leaving fans buzzing. It was proof that WWWY thrives not only on nostalgia but on fostering connections between eras, styles, and artists.
The significance of live albums and fan nostalgia
One reason the festival resonates so deeply is its focus on full-album performances. Bands like Panic! and Blink‑182 didn’t just play their hits; they recreated the albums that shaped listeners’ formative years, note by note. Fans chanted along to every lyric, reciting verses from memory, and often paused mid-song to savor the collective energy.
“I could close my eyes, and it felt like high school all over again,” said Devin Scott, a fan from Denver. “It’s rare to feel that level of connection with thousands of people, all screaming the same lyrics, all remembering the same moment in time.”
Behind-the-scenes and festival culture
The festival’s production and aesthetic played a major role in shaping the experience. Stage designs incorporated nostalgic references to early 2000s album art, while lighting and pyrotechnics emphasized the theatricality of performances. Fans shared their experiences on social media with hashtags like #WWWY2025, #PanicAtTheDisco, and #BlondshellXWeezer, generating a digital archive of the weekend’s highlights.
Even the festival grounds encouraged fan interaction beyond the shows. Photo booths, meet-up areas, and casual seating zones allowed friends to gather and relive memories. Attendees often compared vintage merch finds and swapped stories about seeing their favorite bands for the first time in high school.
The takeaway: Nostalgia, community, and discovery
WWWY 2025 proved that nostalgia is not just about looking back; it’s about connection, emotion, and shared experience. Panic! At The Disco’s performance, regardless of Ryan Ross’s absence, reignited the joy of teenage years while demonstrating Brendon Urie’s enduring charisma. Blondshell’s collaboration with Weezer offered a glimpse into the future of alt-rock and demonstrated the festival’s commitment to bridging generations.
Fans left with new memories intertwined with old ones, realizing that the music of their youth remains alive, relevant, and capable of creating magic in a live setting. As social media clips and stories continue to circulate, WWWY 2025 will be remembered as a festival that honored the past, embraced the present, and hinted at the exciting possibilities of the future.
Final reflections
Looking back, When We Were Young 2025 was more than a concert series — it was a cultural moment. Fans sang, danced, cried, and celebrated together, united by music that shaped their identities. While the Ryan Ross question loomed in the background, the performances themselves proved that the festival’s strength lies in shared nostalgia, surprise, and discovery.
The weekend demonstrated that alt-rock, emo, and indie are not relics of the past but living genres, evolving through both seasoned veterans and new talent. Whether reliving hits with Panic!, discovering Blondshell, or cheering along with Weezer, fans experienced a festival that felt intimate, communal, and larger than life.
WWWY 2025 reminded everyone who attended — and those following online — that music has the power to bridge time, generations, and emotions. It celebrated the past while looking forward, proving that when it comes to music, we’re never truly done with the songs that defined us.
For more information, or to start planning for WWWY 2026, check out the official When We Were Young website.
