If When We Were Young Fest has taught us anything, it’s that nostalgia still rules the alternative music scene. Each year, the Las Vegas-based festival manages to one-up itself with its lineup, and 2025 is no exception. With the reunion of Panic! At The Disco at the heart of this year’s lineup, the festival will see several other bands reunite.
Panic! At The Disco
Few bands defined the 2000s emo boom quite like Panic! At The Disco. From their breakout 2005 debut, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, to Brendon Urie’s time on Broadway, Panic! became one of the most beloved acts in the scene. The band played their official farewell show on March 10, 2023, in Manchester, England, closing the book on nearly two decades. But now, just two years later, PATD is back—and they’re celebrating the 20-year anniversary of their debut by performing it in its entirety. The album that introduced “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and rewired emo-pop with cabaret flair will headline When We Were Young 2025, making this reunion one of the most anticipated sets of the festival.
The Cab
It’s been over a decade since The Cab last performed live together, but When We Were Young marks their long-awaited return. Known for their sleek blend of pop-rock, the Las Vegas outfit made waves with their 2008 debut, Whisper War, before fading into dormancy. Now, not only are they reuniting for the festival, but they’re also celebrating with brand-new music. The Cab will release a new song on September 26, their first in years, and frontman Alex DeLeon has confirmed that a full-length album is “incoming.”
Taking Back Sunday
While not technically a reunion in the traditional sense, Taking Back Sunday is reviving a fan-favorite lineup for their WWWY set. Guitarist/vocalist Fred Mascherino will rejoin the band and perform alongside guitarist John Nolan. For fans who fell in love with TBS during their Louder Now era, this is a chance to relive lightning in a bottle.
Straylight Run
As if the Taking Back Sunday news weren’t enough, John Nolan will also bring back his beloved side project, Straylight Run, which hasn’t performed together since 2021. Their reunion at When We Were Young 2025 carries both nostalgic weight and renewed excitement. Fans who grew up clinging to the quiet intensity of songs like “Existentialism On Prom Night” will once again get to experience those moments live.
