Ax and the Hatchetmen, live at Dante’s, December 16th, 2025
Ax and the Hatchetmen, the Chicago based rock band, made an electric introduction at Dante’s, starting off with their most-streamed song, “Hotel Room”, and quickly setting the tone for their setlist. The audience quickly swarmed to the front as headliners established their energy in the venue. The crowd’s momentum built rapidly from the openers to the main headliners!
The openers displayed a fantastic performance in building the energy before the headliners. Out In Front, the LA-based rock band, set me back into listening to Paramore again. Lead singer Maddie Renner embodies the rockstar melodic energy that reminded me a lot of Hailey Williams vocals. The band showed their grit and raw energy through heavy guitar strums, head-banging drum hits, and addictive vocal hooks. They performed a cover of “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” by Fall Out Boy, and the crowd was ecstatic! Up next was another Los Angeles pop-punk band, The Paradox, making their second mark in Portland.
The Paradox carried the same lasting energy as Out in Front moving along the 2000’s emo music into a present day form. They incited large moshpits and encouraged crowd surfing which hyped the room even more! They’re laid back, goofy band chemistry, and overall energy throughout each song made them very likeable. It easily felt like you were part of the band. Lead singer Eric Dangerfield repped the PDX carpet guitar strap and continues to keep it on for all of their shows. Towarding the end of their tour, they said Portland has shown one of the best supports and love throughout their travels so far. Both openers successfully readied the audience for Ax and the Hatchetmen.
Finally the Ax and the Hatchetmen begin their set with “Hotel Room” from their album So Much To Tell You. The audience quickly made their way closer to the edge of the stage. The six-piece band carries a bright aura to the stage, lead singer Axel Ellis brings an amplified voice that makes anyone in the crowd move and groove. Ellis’ vocals are backed by the horn section, composed of Phil Pistone (trumpet), and Quinn Dolan (saxophone), who add a whole other element of warmth and fullness to their songs. That warmth carries through their tracks “Oasis”, “7×9”, and “Love Songs”. Jazz elements mix with the indie rock band sound, and make Ax and the Hatchetment stand out with their own distinctive identity.
Partway into the set, the band played “Utah,” inducing a slower section of the performance. The slower pacing of the song made the audience more perceptive to the lyric’s themes of youthful adventure and self-discovery. The contrast of the highs and lows paid off, as the final moments of the concert delivers an electrifying impact for the audience. Each band made a strong first impression, offering something distinct to their own style while also bringing a wide demographic in Portland.
Photos and review by Cole Popejoy
