NOTHING MORE brings the Carnal Nature World Tour to a sold-out Van Buren

On Friday, January 31, a sold-out crowd packed into The Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ, for a night that felt both like catharsis and controlled chaos. NOTHING MORE brought their “Carnal Nature World Tour” to the Valley for their first Phoenix headlining show in nearly four years, and judging by the energy in the room, fans were more than ready for their return to the Van Buren stage. The lineup was stacked with heavy hitters from the alt metal/hard rock/progressive rock world, featuring support from Catch Your Breath, Archers, and Doobie, who set the pace of the evening before NOTHING MORE took complete command of the room. This evening’s show marked the 11th stop of the U.S. leg of the tour, following a European run that wrapped in early December, and with Arizona being the hometown of NOTHING MORE’s drummer Ben Anderson, it came with that special celebratory energy that you get with hometown shows.

By the time Doobie kicked things off, the room was nearly full— something rarely seen with an opener, especially with a lineup four bands deep, but a clear sign of Doobie’s draw. Doobie brings something unique to the stage with his blend of rock and rap, seamlessly alternating between singing and rapping verses, all with an undeniable swagger. The independent artist was joined on stage by a band, as well as a DJ, adding a layer of hip-hop texture that complemented Doobie’s rapped verses, while the live band drove the rock energy behind him. Much of Doobie’s performance pulled from his 2025 album Give ‘Em Hell Until You Get to Heaven, with tracks like “Worth a Shot,” “Krazy MF,” and “Early Bird Gets the Whiskey” keeping heads nodding and fists raised. He added in a cover of Danzig’s “Mother,” which had the entire room singing along and throwing horns into the air. Doobie connected well with the crowd, taking moments to engage with the crowd between tracks. He shared that his background was in rap, sampling tracks from the rock and metal songs he loved growing up, ultimately leading him to where he is today, blending elements of both rap and rock to create a unique sound. By the time he closed with “Beauty in the Boogeyman,” Doobie had done exactly what an opener should — he warmed the crowd while leaving a strong impression.

By the time Archers finally took the stage, the venue was packed shoulder to shoulder and buzzing with anticipation, made even louder by a full-room singalong of Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel” before they’d played a single note. From there, they hit the gas and never let up, delivering a high energy set that sent mosh pits spinning and crowd surfers overhead. Nathanael Pulley’s vocals were the emotional backbone of the performance — powerful and uplifting even when the lyrics cut deep — while guitarist Ben Koehler played with a focus and presence that naturally pulled eyes toward him. Bassist Oscar Porter brought a chaotic, carefree energy, tearing around the stage and leaning fully into the moment, as drummer Grayson Mesarosh kept things driving from behind the kit, frequently popping up to hype the crowd. New track “The Dirt,” released only a day prior, fit right in alongside fan favorites like “Made for Love,” “Drag Me Out,” and “Bitter.” Ending with “Perfect Strangers,” Archers left the crowd sweaty, energized, and more than ready for whatever came next.

Catch Your Breath’s pre-set playlist brought unexpected nostalgia, with songs from artists like Rebecca Black, the Jonas Brothers, and Vanessa Carlton turning the room into a massive singalong before they even hit the stage. When they did, the response was immediate. The band came out swinging, opening with track “Savages,” immediately igniting the moshpits. They had a strong fan base present with the crowd who sang along to every word as they delivered a set balanced with heaviness and vulnerability. The setlist featured all the favorites from their debut album Shame On Me, as well as their newest track, “Lost,” released just last week. One of the most impactful moments of the night came when the band paused before their performance of “Y.S.K.W.” to address the crowd directly, offering a heartfelt message to anyone struggling with addiction: “You are not alone. We’re so happy you’re here.” It was a moment of sincerity that felt genuinely lived-in, not scripted. Fans lit up the room with their flashlights as they screamed back the words to “Dial Tone,” a track frontman Josh Mowery dedicated to the audience. The band rounded out a standout performance with their album’s title track, “Shame On Me,” leaving the crowd fully primed for the evening’s main act.

The lights dimmed about fifteen minutes before set time, and a spoken-word, philosophical monologue filled the speakers, including some of the same words that appear on the title track of CARNAL. The anticipation grew louder with every passing second, chants and cheers building, with one fan yelling what everyone was thinking: “We need our therapy! Let’s go!”

When NOTHING MORE finally took the stage, opening with “HOUSE ON SAND,” the release was instant and explosive. While they made an appearance in the Valley back in May, opening for Disturb’s “Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour,” this was their first headliner in nearly four years, and the fans were ready. Despite vocalist Jonny Hawkins continuing to recover from a vocal injury that sidelined him briefly last year, you never would have known it. His vocals were flawless, powerful, and emotionally charged throughout the night. Hawkins commanded the stage in signature NOTHING MORE fashion — shirtless, covered in body paint, barefoot, and in constant motion. He ran, jumped into the pit, and leaned into the barricade, singing directly to fans during “Let ’em Burn.” Crowd surfers poured over the barricade song after song, while the pit stayed active and, as Hawkins jokingly noted, “healthy,” even calling out members of Doobie’s band for being in the mix.

Given that this was the “Carnal Nature World Tour,” it was no surprise that the setlist focused heavily on their newest album, CARNAL, but the band did still make sure to include all of the favorites that spanned their extensive discography as well. Before “Fade In / Fade Out,” guitarist Mark Vollelunga took a moment to explain the song’s meaning, sharing how deeply personal it is to him, centered around his relationship with his son and his father. Mid-set, Hawkins turned song selection over to the audience, joking about how the band always argues over what to play next. After a wave of shouted suggestions, the crowd’s chants made the decision clear, and “Mr. MTV” rang out to roaring approval. Archers frontman Nathanael Pulley joined the band on stage, taking on the part of Daughtry for a performance of “FREEFALL,” for another standout moment of the night.

The theatrical elements NOTHING MORE is known for were in full effect, including a drum duel between Hawkins, who was originally the band’s drummer before stepping up as the band’s vocalist, and Ben Anderson. The unique percussion setup they have going on really adds something special to their live performance. One of the highlights of the evening featured the newest iteration of the band’s “scorpion tail,” an interactive instrument utilized during an extended solo that included a performance unlike anything I’ve ever seen live. As the set drew to a close with “This Is the Time (Ballast),” Hawkins, Vollelunga, and Oliver climbed onto the barricade, Hawkins pounding on the drums while Vollelunga shredded the guitar and the bass thundered, all just inches from the crowd. The band poured every last ounce of energy into their performance as they wrapped up the set, and the crowd gave it all back in return, shouting back every word, fists pumping. There was no encore — and none was needed. Nothing More left everything on the stage, delivering a performance fans will not soon forget.

Admittedly, this entire lineup was new to me, and I can truly say that I left a fan of every artist on this bill. The “Carnal World Nature Tour” has plenty of stops left and is a show that you will not want to miss. Check out the remaining tour dates and purchase your ticket here.