On Saturday, the heat came back amplified, and so did fans. I found myself surrounded by folks dressed to the nines with nods to tonight’s headline performer: My Chemical Romance. A highlight example was the trio that came dressed as Gerard Way from different album eras: The Black Parade, Danger Days, and Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Day two held the weekend’s busiest schedule, forcing some tough decisions. Luckily, the lineup made it difficult to go wrong.

I arrived at the Ponce De Leon stage minutes before indie rockers Radio Free Alice were set to play. Members Noah Learmonth, Jules Paradiso, Michael Phillips and Lochie Dowd took to their instruments in coordinating dark blue button downs and trousers. While not ideal under the glaring sun, the uniform gave them a cohesive, clean look that fit their vintage inspired sound nicely. Lead singer Learmonth’s voice is reminiscent of Morrissey, a satisfying coincidence given Johnny Marr would be performing at the Peachtree stage later on. They began with a few RFA hits. “Paris is Gone” and “Empty Words” delighted the sweaty crowd. During the latter, the title track of the band’s latest EP, Phillips switched from his bass guitar to a saxophone. With it, he delivered a smooth undertone that highlighted the song’s yearning nature.

After the show, we sat down with the band to talk influences, song meanings, favorite records, and why America is so bizarre to the Aussie-native, UK-based band.

What motivated the frustrated lyrics in “Empty Words”?

Learmonth shared, “I was inspired by the last time we were touring around. Every venue we came across was named something referential, like ‘The Stone Rose’, for example. It felt like we were living in a museum of the past. There’s an eerie feeling that comes with being an indie rock band in 2025 because our genre has become so retrospective.”

As a band you obviously share artistic influences, but I’m curious, where do you differ?

Dowd offered, “I like trip-hop and shoegaze. Sometimes I’ll push Ride or other similar stuff onto you guys.” Learmonth added, “I went through a Blink-182 phase for about a week two years ago.” The rest didn’t hesitate to chime in.

“That was a hard time for all of us,” they laughed, “we thought we might lose him.”

Fittingly, Blink would be headlining the following day as the final performance of the fest. Unfortunately for Learmonth (and perhaps fortunately for the rest of them) the band would miss it as they will already have moved on to the next stop of their tour.

You’re all originally from Australia, but are now based in the UK, and currently touring in the US. What have you noticed are the main cultural differences between the three?

“Shame is a big theme in British comedy and music. I was talking to a friend about what the early sound of New Order is, because that sound is so influential; it fully changed indie rock. We decided that sound is enjoyment, hope, and pleasure, but with a strong undercurrent of shame. It’s like, we’re having fun and we’re dancing, but this is awkward and we probably shouldn’t be doing this. It’s a very British, Christian thing. I think Aussies are less shameful than British people. The music that’s influenced us is largely more British than Australian, and I think that may be because I identify with that shamefulness,” Learmonth reflected.

As for the band’s impression of America, they all remarked on the abundance of religious billboards they’ve seen while on the road. They even used a picture of one in their Instagram story to advertise their show that day.

“It’s more religious. In Australia, you don’t have billboards saying ‘Jesus Will Save Your Soul’… But we’re trying to change that,” said Phillips, sarcastically, “We’re thinking about purchasing a few billboards that say ‘Radio Free Alice Will Save You’, he proposed.

Finally, what’s one album you think everyone should own?

Dowd: From Here On In by South

Paradiso: OK Computer by Radiohead

Phillips: Marquee Moon by Television

Learmonth: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out by Yo La Tengo

Afterwards, we got the chance to catch up with Girl Tones, the sister-duo who were the first show at the Piedmont stage that day. Kenzie Shultz and Laila Crowe known for their fun, hard-hitting rock that packs a lyrical punch.

I’ve been loving your song “Cherry Picker”! Can you tell us about the meaning behind it?

“Thank you! ‘Cherry Picker’ was one of those songs that just kind of spills out of you, and you don’t really know where it’s from or what exactly it even means. I wrote it when I was younger, but what’s fascinating is I’ve seen it take on new meanings in my life as I’ve gotten older. I love it because it talks about distortions and views, something that’s very pertinent to now. Also it’s just such a fun rock song, right? I got to use a baritone guitar for the first time, too. It just came together so well,” pondered Shultz.

Being bandmates, and especially sisters, you obviously have a lot in common in terms of music taste. Is there anything you don’t have in common?

“She’s a crazy Talking Heads fan,” said Shultz of her sister, “I love Talking Heads, but she’s on a whole other level.”

“Oh, I thought you were going to say you didn’t like them at all,” Crowe warned, “I was about to say… we got issues,” she joked. “No, they’re one of my favorite bands of all time. I got to see Stop Making Sense when they re-released it in theaters —I saw it twice, and each time I cried. It’s spiritual almost, it feels like you’re in church. I’ve never seen a concert film get across the feel of a live show that well. They had something special that I don’t know will ever be recreated.”

How do you guys navigate having a career together as siblings?

“I feel like we kind of worked it out. We had one big fight and now we’re good, we just argue about small things,” Crowe offered. “When you spend this much time with anyone, it’s inevitable that you get annoyed at each other. But it’s a balance, we have our silent days where we have headphones in the whole day and then we have our fun social days where we hang out and do a bunch together.”

“I also feel like it’s us against the world a little bit, like we’ll get mad if someone else wrongs us,” added Shultz, “but between us two it’s never that serious. It’s not like an Oasis situation or anything.”

Finally, what’s one album you think everyone should own?

“Off the Wall by Michael Jackson,” answered Crowe, “I think that’s one of the best albums of all time. I always go back to it, I listen to it in full at least three times a month.”

“I agree with that,” Shultz nodded, “You gotta know Michael Jackson.”

The rest of the day was spent bouncing from set to set. TV On The Radio lit up the Peachtree stage and made it impossible not to dance, playing hits like “Wolf Like Me” from their 2006 album Return to Cookie Mountain. The Backseat Lovers took over the Piedmont stage for gorgeous golden hour performance. Fans screamed every lyric to “Kilby Girl” and “Maple Syrup”, which was a great help for lead singer Joshua Harmon, who announced he was losing his voice at the start of the show. Cage The Elephant was an explosive affair later that night. Singer Matt Shultz bounced around on the Peachtree stage with no shortage of his signature firecracker energy. The lyrics to hits like, “Cigarette Daydreams” and “Come a Little Closer” echoed throughout the park as fans relived the nostagia of the band’s 2013 album Melophobia.

Finally, the headline act of the night exceeded all expectations I had. As someone unfamiliar with My Chemical Romance, I had no clue what I was in for. What took place at the Peachtree stage that night was much closer to a Broadway performance than a concert. Complete with a set, characters, costumes, dialogue, and stunts, MCR performed the entirety of their 2006 album The Black Parade. It was fascinating. Fans around seemed to know every lyric to every song, and belted them passionately in time with singer Gerard Way. I overheard someone shout, “I’ve been waiting 13 years for this!” I’m sure it was worth it for that fan, along with many others there, to witness the stellar performance the band put on that night.

Not a bad way to end night two of Shaky Knees, whose name represents the condition attendees will have when returning for the third and final day.