Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, Fall Out Boy and more lit up a rainy night at L.A.’s Kia Forum for iHeartRadio’s Alter Ego Fest.
Not even a torrential downpour could stop alternative rock fans from packing Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on Saturday night for iHeartRadio’s annual Alter Ego Festival. With a bill bringing together Fall Out Boy, Chvches, Phoenix, Muse, Jack White and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, spirits were high inside the venue despite slippery floors and drenched concertgoers.
And it was a mad rush to get inside, as Fall Out Boy was set to kick off the eight-act event at 7 p.m. sharp. Demonstrating the loyalty of the L.A., the room was surprisingly full as the crowd waited for the pop-punk favorites. The band is preparing to release its first album since 2018 and anticipation is high.
The show brought out some stars, too, with Jared Leto jamming out in a box and at one point joining ALT 98.7’s Woody on stage to tease new music from 30 Seconds to Mars. “The Staircase’s” Patrick Schwarzenegger could be seen playing air guitar and drums to nearly every act, and Bachelor Nation favorites Michelle Young, Rachel Recchia and Genevieve Parisi were also spotted in the crowd. Backstage, Tobey Maguire mingled with various rock stars while industry vets — and siblings — Jonathan Dickins (manager of Adele) and Lucy Dickins (co-head of music at WME) looked after a party bus-load of 10-year-old Jack White fans. Also spotted in the VIP section: iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman, president of Virgin Music Label & Artist Services Jacqueline Saturn, Warner Records’ EVP, promotion and commerce Mike Chester and SVP of promotion Rob Goldklang and manager Peter Katsis.
Read on for more standout moments from iHeartRadio’s Alter Ego Fest 2023.
Fall Out Boy Opens the Show With a Bang
Despite the early set time, Fall Out Boy immediately brought the energy, starting its set with the one-two punch of “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Uma Thurman.” However, one couldn’t help but feel like something was missing… oh, yeah, it was lead guitarist Joe Trohman, who was absent from the show (and recovering from an illness). A stand-in filled in, but it simply wasn’t the same. The band teased its upcoming single, “Love From the Other Side,” which releases on Jan. 18, but sadly did not perform it as the track is “so new we can’t even play it yet,” bassist Pete Wentz explained. However, he encouraged the crowd to “keep your eyes peeled this week” for more announcements, hinting at a possible tour in the works, especially as Wentz ended the set by saying that he “can’t wait to spend the next year with you.” The band played “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and “Centuries” as black-and-white confetti erupted into the crowd, literally starting the show with a bang.
