This photo captures Davey Havok of XTRMST during their intense performance at The Observatory OC on January 31, 2015. Shooting this show was unforgettable—the energy was raw, visceral, and unrelenting, much like the ethos of XTRMST itself. This image freezes a moment where you can feel the weight of every lyric, every scream, and the dedication that defines the straight edge movement.

XTRMST, the straight edge hardcore punk side project from Davey Havok and Jade Puget of AFI, brought together an incredible lineup of musicians for their live performances. Alongside Davey’s impassioned vocals and Jade’s searing lead guitar work, the band included rhythm guitarist Josh James (known for his work with Stick to Your Guns), bassist Chris Sorenson (best recognized from Saosin), and drummer Val Saucedo, whose powerful playing drove the band’s intensity onstage. Together, they created a sound that was both furious and uncompromising, a perfect reflection of the straight edge ethos the band embodied.

The show that night was unforgettable. The band tore through a blistering set, and Davey’s presence was magnetic—shouting and leaping across the stage with an urgency that pulled the audience in. Watching Jade and Josh lock into tight, ferocious guitar interplay while Chris’s bass thundered and Val’s drums exploded, you couldn’t help but feel the electric chemistry among the band members. This wasn’t just a project for them—it was a mission.

Despite their short run from 2012 to 2015, XTRMST left a significant impact on hardcore punk. Their self-titled debut album, released on Dim Mak Records in 2014, captured their intensity, but seeing them live was a whole different experience.

Setlist from The Observatory OC, January 31, 2015:

Conformist, Coward Bow Your Head, Words for the Unwanted, Straight Edge (Minor Threat cover), Division, Sharper, Humanity, The Way, Filler (Minor Threat cover), Dirty Nails, Swallow Your God, Juliets, Social Deathplay, Merciless, The Breed, In My Eyes (Minor Threat cover), Extremist, Exterminate.