'Everybody Wants' The Struts to Come Back to The Anthem

August 17, 2025 - Washington, DC

Photographed and Written by Caden Forrester @flicksby4ster

Dirty Honey

Dirty Honey wasted no time and ignited the atmosphere of the venue. They launched straight into “Gypsy,” with frontman Marc Labelle all over the shade. He has a voice that's raspy and gritty, but very strong and firm. Lead guitarist John Notto sliced through the air with his fiery guitar solos. Meanwhile, bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Jaydon Bean had locked into what appeared to be a distinct groove between the two of them.

The band kept the energy up into “Heartbreaker,” with a solid guitar solo; even the fans who were calmly nodding along were now shouting. Throughout the set LaBell perused the whole stage, leaving no person on the barricade unseen.

Just when you think the peak of the set had been reached, the band played “Rolling 7’s” to close out the set. This song perfectly captures the whole vibe of the band. Rock with some groovy baseline and undertones, a perfect rock band with elements of blues thrown in there. LaBell constantly turned the mic stand to the crowd through the night, but this time he took it to the next level, hopping off the stage and standing on the barricade wall. The whole venue was in a frenzy, and voices were cracking from singing along, a visible sheen of sweat was visible on the banmates and much of the crowd. Dirty Honey might have been the opener, but they brought such a performance that you could place them as a headliner at The Anthem, and they would’ve done just fine.

The Struts

After a brief intermission between sets the house lights once again dimmed and the anticipation swept through the crowd. The stage lights burst into color as the struts exploded onto the stage, and the roar that greeted the band back was so far the loudest part of the night. Frontman Luke Spiller came marching out wearing a dazzling black and gold sequined jacket, lookoing like a glam rock ringmaster. The Struts were celebrating the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough album Everybody Wants, and from the first few moments on stage, it was clear the show would be special.

They opened with “Primadonna Like Me,” a flamboyant opener that set the tone. The song’s brash, high-energy chorus hit hard. Spiller ‘struts’ across the stage as if he owns it and wants to use it to its full meight. With theatrical flair, Spiller twirled his microphone stand and clapped above his head, which the crowd followed shortly. By the time the chorus hit, nearly everyone was singing along back at the band.

After the first song, the band took a moment to recognize where they were and thank everyone for making the album so successful. Even saying, “The Struts are backing Washington, DC baby!” to which the crowd erupted. This wasnt just a special show for the album, it was a return of a founder of the venue. The Struts were the first band to EVER play at the venue when it opened back in 2017. Then they were an opener, now they were a headliner performing in front of over 6,000 of their own fans.

After the brief moment of appreciation, the fans were excited to get back to the music, to which The Struts ripped right into “Body Talks.” The Anthem’s floor was bouncing as hundreds of fans danced to the tune. Spiller followed Dirt Heads' lead and frequently turned the microphone towards the crowd; the audience followed his lead and dutifully sang along to every “body talks” refrain. It was only the second song, but the energy had already skyrocketed.

As if to underline the celebratory mood, the third song on the setlist was “Everybody Wants.” Hearing “Everybody Wants” (the title track of that debut album) prompted a different kind of loud cheer of recognition. The band played it with gusto, and you could sense a little pride in the performance, not pride in the negative sense, but pride in their work, and pride in the fans they’ve brought together to experience such a night. Not every young band gets to mark a decade of success with their fans, and it was clear both the audience and The Struts were equally excited. When the chorus hit, I found myself, along with thousands of others, singing. People were jumping in unison, and a few beverages were spilled; it was completely pure unflierted excitement.

The Struts just kept the momentum going, performing “Could Have Been Me” shortly after. This is the band's most popular track and it shows. Spiller only had to sing the opening line before the crowd took over. The venue literally transformed into a giant choir, everybody screaming every word of the song so loudly it nearly drowned out the band. Even after years of radio play, the song felt alive, and I got chills hearing thousands of people sing it as one. In that moment, the energy was overwhelming.

By this point, it struck me how tight the band was musically. Adam Slack’s guitar solos were razor sharp, yet full of rock and roll grit, Jed Elliot’s baselines literally shook the building, and Gethin Davies was a powerhouse on the drums, pounding away with relentless energy. In the midst of the whole display, these guys were showing some serious skill on stage.

As the night neared its end, The Struts weren’t going to conclude the show quietly. With a grin, Spiller asked if we were ready for more, and the band kicked into “Where Did She Go.” Fittingly, the last song off their Everybody Wants album. The song’s bouncy beauty had everyone jumping again. Even after so many songs, the audience showed no signs of fatigue; if anything, this gave everybody a second wind. As it ended, The Struts briefly left the stage, but we all knew there was more to come. The venue filled with chants of, “One more song!” (with many of us hoping for two or three). After a minute of deafening cheers, the band returned for the encore, looking energized and grateful.

After the encore, when the lights finally came up and the band took their bows, I realized I was grinning ear to ear. Around me, I saw faces flushed with joy and exhaustion, evidence of a crowd completely satisfied with the rock. As I filed out of the venue, my ears were ringing and my heart was still thumping. People all around were buzzing about what they had just witnessed.

Looking back on the evening, it’s triking how both bands managed to capture the rock and roll genre in their own ways. Dirty Honey brought the gritty blues-based revivalist energy, proving that rock is alive and well in younger generations. The Struts then brought the glammed-up, flamboyant British take, a celebration of rock’s theatrical side, delivered with conviction. Together they agev DC one of those rare nights where you forget about everything outside the venue walls. The show was immersive and exhilarating from start to finish, in an age where some argue that rock is fading, The Struts and Dirty Honey confidently proved the opposite. They reminded us that rock can be fun, unruly, and larger than life, and that sometimes all you need is a song, a loud guitar, and an enthusiastic crowd.