Concert review: Hinder w/ Austin Meade & Kelsey Hickman | 07.20.25, The Hawthorn (with photo gallery)

Photo of Hinder’s Marshal Dutton by Laura Jerele

Despite what Hinder’s vocalist Marshal Dutton said at the time, this concert was not a Tuesday night, but it was still an amazing night for a show in St. Louis! Ahhh, that touring life, right? Trust me, funny moments like that only add to the night, and it was a really great show at The Hawthorn for Hinder, Austin Meade and Kelsey Hickman. 

Hickman is a force, for sure one to watch. Her rock-meets-country style warmed things up perfectly because she is high energy and in your face. She’s super vibrant and has a grit to her that makes you take her damn seriously. Looking sharp AF, her voice was rich and songs were super catchy, and it’s worth noting she had her own crowd there for her camped out in the front row. One of her songs that caught my ears was “RBF” (a.k.a. “Resting Bitch Face”). Well played, girl. Literally. 

Austin Meade is not afraid to headbang and play the hell out of his guitar, which feels part thrash, part country, all rock ‘n’ roll, and totally in-your-face, with the stage looking like a pared-down stadium setup complete with ramps, massive lighting rigs, long hair, combat boots and Flying V guitars gleaming and blasting. But don’t be fooled, it wasn’t just about flash. Meade’s voice was rich and raw, no auto-tune or gimmicks. He’s got soul and a pure depth that nods deeply to ‘80s power chord choruses and ‘90s grunge swagger. And mini-arena or not, the heavy draw at The Hawthorn speaks volumes because it wasn’t their first stop around here, and the band’s seasoned chemistry shows. Oh, and did I mention there was a good old-fashioned guitar solo (a real solo!) thrown in for good measure? 

Highlight of the night for moi? Without question, “Insignificant Other.” That song hit hard—groovy, emotional, and heavy AF. New tracks also got their moment, digging into chords that shook the floor and went over well with the crowd, which I always like to see. Meade has something cool going on and it was well worth seeing. 

Hinder had a bit of a rocky start: a buzzing fuzz happened in the first three songs, which kind of threatened to derail things. But like seasoned rock pros, they simply hit pause, swapped a cable or something because it was fixed without embarrassment, and they dove right back in—no fuss, no drama. That quick recovery is something so rock n’ roll, and I was glad to see it did not derail anything. During their set, they cruised through their hits, and even slipped in a surprise cover of Collective Soul’s “Shine” (cool enough as I had just seen them play here in town a couple nights before; you can read about it here) giving a ‘90s hallmark a refreshed, heartfelt twist. It was a nostalgic nod that fit nicely in the set and gave everyone an unexpected sing-along moment. Here is their full setlist:

All American Nightmare
Homecoming Queen
How Long
Without You
Shine
What Ya Gonna Do
2 Sides of Me
Better Than Me
Live Without It
King of the Letdown
Bring Me Back to Life
Lips of an Angel
Get Stoned

All in all, a fab show with a lot of grit and rock and roll. And that’s just the way I like it for a Sunday night! | Laura Jerele