Live Review : Chevelle + Dead Poet Society @ Coca Cola Roxy, Atlanta - Sep 7th 2025

Chris Collett
3 hours ago
3 min read

The Coca Cola Roxy was packed on September 7 as fans poured in for a night of heavy rock. The energy in the room was undeniable, with a mix of longtime fans and new faces buzzing with anticipation. Everyone knew they were in for a powerful evening, and from the very first note the bands delivered.

Dead Poet Society (DPS) opened the night with a set that immediately justified their spot on the bill. I hadn’t listened to them much before this show, so I walked in without expectations. That changed fast. From the first notes, they were locked in. Every riff hit hard and every beat landed with purpose. Their seven song set balanced familiar tracks with newer material, and the energy never dipped. DPS gave everything they had, and you could feel the connection between band and crowd grow with each song. By the end of their set, I wasn’t just impressed. I left convinced they are a band worth following.

When Chevelle took over, the tone shifted but the intensity stayed at full tilt. They stormed into their set with “Family System” and “The Clincher,” immediately drawing the crowd into their dark, heavy groove. After “The Clincher,” vocalist Pete Loeffler paused to address the audience. He explained that he had lost his voice the day before and needed steroid shots just to perform. “But we aren’t canceling sh*t,” he said, earning loud cheers of support from fans who were already locked in. Even with that obstacle, his performance was nothing short of inspiring. Pete pushed through with raw grit, his vocals carrying every ounce of emotion the songs demanded.

Midway through the set came “Pale Horse,” one of the standout tracks from Chevelle’s new album. On the record it is already a brooding, powerful song, but live it reached another level. The riffs were heavier, the rhythm section thundered through the room, and Pete’s vocals gave the track an added raw edge that fit the atmosphere perfectly. It was a clear highlight of the night and a sign that the new material is going to become a staple in their shows.

The rest of the set was packed with fan favorites like “Face to the Floor,” “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along),” and “Send the Pain Below.” Chevelle closed the night with a powerful encore, turning the Coca Cola Roxy into a wall of sound and energy. Every chord, every lyric, every beat hit with the power of a band that knows exactly how to deliver for their fans.

Both bands delivered knockout performances, but for different reasons. DPS impressed with unrestrained passion and raw discovery, earning a new fan in me on the spot. Chevelle delivered seasoned rock professionalism and fierce tenacity, pushing through adversity and bringing new material to life in a way that exceeded its studio version. From DPS’s first chord to Chevelle’s final encore, tonight was a reminder of why live music matters so much: it is connection, release, and memory all rolled into one.