DAYSEEKER brings a metalcore-fueled night to West Des Moines

On Sunday, midwestern sad rock loyalists came out in droves to the sold-out Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines, Iowa for DAYSEEKER’s The Pale Moonlight Tour. Supported by Northlane, Wind Walkers, and sace6, the night was full of sick riffs and crying while dancing. Families dotted the crowd, proving there really is no better way to spend Mother’s Day than at a rock show with your favorite bands.

sace6 opened the night, a three-piece band with heavy electronic elements and smooth R&B-style vocals.

Their set was exciting: dynamic shifts kept the crowd energized, moving seamlessly between the varying vibes. Even when the set slowed down for their song “allured”, fans stayed engaged by brightening the room with their phone lights. Despite being the earliest act, sace6 got fans moving, turning casual listeners into engaged participants.

Up next came Wind Walkers and, rather than easing into their set, they wasted no time. The band delivering a confident, high-energy performance. While their set did include a couple newer singles, fans sang along the most fervently when the band played songs from their popular 2023 album What If I Break?. Band member stage presence added another layer to the experience, with a clear connection to the audience that grew stronger with each song. By the final notes of their fan-favorite song “Hangfire”, Wind Walkers had elevated the night’s momentum exponentially.

Northlane’s set arrived next like a controlled detonation — equal parts explosive aggression and fine-tuned precision.

From the moment Northlane stepped onstage, the band locked into a relentless groove, delivering crushing riffs layered with electronic bits. What set the Australian progressive metalcore band apart in the night was their ability to balance chaos with clarity; even in their heaviest moments, there was intention behind every shift, every drop, every ambient break.

At one point during their set, guitarist Josh Smith said, “Hey, Des Moines, I think you might have a hard time understanding me because of my funny accent. I need you all to move right now.” The crowd responded in kind, matching the energy with constant movement, from head-banging to punching and kicking pits.

When it was finally time for DAYSEEKER’s set, smoke filled the stage around an illuminated coffin. Lead singer Rory Rodriguez then sauntered out to the center of the stage to softly sing the chilling intro of their hit song “Pale Moonlight”.

The rest of the band followed, taking their places just in time for the chorus to ring out.

Throughout the set, the production elevated everything: pulsing lights and backing elements transformed the room into something closer to a sensory experience rather than a standard hard rock show. All of these elements coalesced to create a haunting performance. Grief was laced in every note, from Rodriguez’s vulnerable song dedications to his late father to the overt graveyard-themed stage setup. About halfway through their set, DAYSEEKER performed an emotional cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Ghost of You”, amplifying the theme of death and pleasantly surprising fans with the classic emo anthem.

By the end of the night, the lineup proved that modern post-hardcore and metalcore are not just evolving — they’re thriving. The genre’s evolution is driven by bands like DAYSEEKER who are unafraid to push both sound and emotion to new heights. Fueled by a sold-out crowd, the night ultimately belonged as much to the fans as the bands, whose energy and passion turned every moment into something unforgettable.

Photography by Jayme Bigger

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