The Swancore Pantheon: Dance Gavin Dance at The Fillmore

6/17/2026

By: Andrew Storey

Walking up to the Fillmore Detroit on The night of Wednesday 6/17/2026, the anticipation for
Dance Gavin Dance was already high with lines around the block. The 2026 iteration of DGD
has a renewed, heavier focus, and the people of Detroit were ready for it. Once inside, the
venue's low light haze and slightly limited capacity set the perfect scene for what was about to
unfold.

The Support: Novelists, Wolf & Bear, and Horse the Band
The night began with relentless momentum. Novelists opened and made a huge fan out of me.
Camille Contreras is an amazing human being and knockout vocalist who spent hours after the
set selling merch and greeting every fan with a smile. I could not have been more impressed by
this band that I knew very little of coming into the night. Wolf & Bear is a force within the genre. Double vocals and catchy hooks really primes the audience for what is to come.

Nintendocore is a term new to me used to describe the legendary Horse the Band. Mixing heavy
guitar with 8 bit sound is something that is very near and dear to my heart. These guys are
absolute post hardcore legends fully deserving of the throne brought on stage to support lead
vocalist Nathan Winneke whose Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis has not slowed the energy of his
performance one bit.

\When Dance Gavin Dance heroically entered the stage, it was a master class in charisma. The
current lineup anchored by Will Swan’s signature leads and Matthew Mingus’s driving rhythms
is incredibly fluid making this incredibly complex music feel effortless. Andrew Wells has fully
stepped into the clean vocal role, bringing a commanding presence that perfectly balances the
intensity of Jon Mess. This is a pair of the most talented vocalists in modern music that could
hold their own as individuals, hearing them in tandem is nothing short of mind blowing. Martin
and Sergio are perfect additions to the touring lineup who bring an energy all their own. It is
abundantly clear that this band is a well oiled machine fueled by passion and solidified by the
love and admiration that the members obviously have for each other.

True to popular fashion the audience didn’t show up empty handed with one fan handing a
Giant bag of candy to Andrew mid set, and another presenting the band with a collection of
handmade dolls with the likeness of all 6 members of the touring lineup.

Dance Gavin Dance in 2026 is a band that refuses to stagnate. Tonight in Detroit, they proved
that despite lineup shifts and a constantly evolving sound, their ability to command a room and
deliver a relentlessly tight, high energy performance remains untouched. The Swancore Kings
prove that sometimes you can have it all; brutal breakdowns and the pure class that it takes to
make sure that everyone in the room is welcomed and loved.