For many fans of late ’80s and early ’90s hard rock, Warrant stands as a last refuge of leather-jacket swagger, soaring melodies, and unapologetic arena-ready sound. On May 4, 2025, they hit the stage at M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD, with a set that was equal parts nostalgic joy and living-proof-of-skills showcase. Within a one-hour slot, Warrant reminded everyone exactly what they brought to the party: hooks, heart, and a crowd-pleasing energy that time hasn’t dimmed one bit.
Full Setlist
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Down Boys
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So Damn Pretty (Should Be Against the Law)
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Bed of Roses
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You’re the Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised
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I Saw Red
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Big Talk
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Blind Faith
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32 Pennies
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Sometimes She Cries
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D.R.F.S.R.
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Heaven
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin
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Cherry Pie (with “We Will Rock You” intro)
The Energy
Warrant didn’t waste a second. Launching straight into “Down Boys”, they hit the stage like a jolt of neon adrenaline. That crunchy guitar riff ripped through the early-evening air, and the pavilion responded with immediate cheers and fist pumps. It was a signature opener—it felt both classic and energized freshly from the studio.
As they moved into “So Damn Pretty” and “Bed of Roses”, the atmosphere shifted into a sweet, melodic groove. The transition from raucous to romantic plays right into the band’s strengths, and the crowd leaned into every lyric, singing along with visible affection. Lead vocals carried both punch and vulnerability, grounding the spectacle with a sense of every-person connection.
Highlights & Crowd Moments
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“You’re the Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised” kept the edge sharp and delivered with a swagger that reawoke the theatre-seat glint of 1990-style still very much alive.
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“I Saw Red” found its emotional core live; the lyrics resonated deeply, and the connection between band and fan became more than performance— it was confession.
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“Blind Faith” and “32 Pennies” offered deeper cuts to fans that showcased the band’s underrated songwriting. Not the obvious radio hits, but painted with passion in real-time.
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“Sometimes She Cries” dialed up the emotion again—an arena ballad with quiet power, with audience members swaying, cell phone screens held aloft like candle flames.
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“D.R.F.S.R.” roared back with adrenaline; the energy sky-rocketed at this point, the beat pounding through hearts and chest cavities in sync.
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The hits rolled out: “Heaven”—always breathtaking with its soaring chorus; “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, darker and more theatrical; and then “Cherry Pie”, closing the set with a wink and a roar, prefaced by a cheeky “We Will Rock You” stomp-stomp-clap intro that turned the crowd into co-conspirators.
That closing mash-up was playful perfection. When the opening riff of “Cherry Pie” finally hit, phones rose, fists pumped, and voices soared together. It was the right way to go out.
The Vibe
Warrant wasn’t the main headliner, but they acted like it in every sense. Kaitlyn, their front-woman-turned-frontman-equivalent, commanded the stage with a vintage way of communicating—not in grandstanding, but in direct glances and knowing gestures that felt both of the moment and mid-scream, “Remember us? We’re still good.”
The production was polished but imperfect—in the best way. No massive video walls here, just solid lighting bursts that played off every guitar flick and vocal phrase, modest but meaningful. The music was the star. And the crowd—from younger fans discovering the songs anew to fans who had been holding up “Cherry Pie” posters since the ’90s—were unified by shared voices and enthusiastic arms raised.
What stood out wasn’t the spectacle—it was how in-tune the crowd was. Harmonizing backup lines, responding to call-and-response moments, singing ballads back softly at key moments— Warrant created a communal experience. This wasn’t a nostalgia trip; this was a shared celebration.
Tiny Quibbles
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The show clocked in at about an hour. For a festival set, that’s par for the course, but when you’ve got a catalog this deep, a few more surprises or deeper tracks might’ve added a lovely touch for hardcore fans.
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On rare occasions, the mix skewed a bit heavy on the mid-range guitars, slightly drowning delicate vocal moments like in “Sometimes She Cries.” Still, it was a minor hiccup in a packed hour of performance.
Final Thoughts
This Warrant set was exactly what fans wanted: confident, communal, full of hooks and emotion, played with authenticity, and delivered with heart. They wove their biggest hits with lesser-heard gems, turned a festival slot into a headline-level performance, and affirmed something that never goes out of style: great songs, great voice, great hooks.
They reminded us why we grew up with these songs, why they still mean something, and how deeply we can feel that connection 35 years on. It wasn’t just performance. It was resonance.
When the final riffs of “Cherry Pie” died down, people cheered not just for the song, but because they remembered feeling something genuine—and Warrant reminded them of that. No frills, no gimmicks—just rock, heart, and high-voltage nostalgia done right.