There are not many festivals that can draw both adult goth-rock fans and TikTok-savvy Gen Z attendees to the same place, but it’s rare for Nine Inch Nails and Noah Kahan to share the same lineup. The advantage of today - the second day of music at Mad Cool 2025 - is that while fans are excited to see their favorite artists, they are also likely to encounter performances from artists outside their typical preferences. And what would a festival be without a few surprises?
Kicking off today’s events is a diverse range of European talent, including Spanish star Natalia Lacunza, Swiss instrumental group Hermanos Gutiérrez, Georgian trio Will Kolak, and local Madrid act JØL - two of the few groups that triumphed over 1000 competitors to win this year’s Mad Cool Talent competition for emerging artists. Although it’s still early by Spanish standards, crowds are already gathering at the main stage; and as breakout singer-songwriter Benson Boone takes the stage to enthusiastic applause, it becomes clear that his style of chart-topping, acrobatic pop ballads resonates with the audience. Equally significant is the crowd for Alanis Morissette; confidently navigating the stage in leather pants and an understated oversized tee, this performance exemplifies why she has earned the affectionate title of 'the queen of alt-rock angst'. Having retained her powerful, emotive vocal prowess and self-assured demeanor since her landmark 1995 album ‘Jagged Little Pill’, Alanis ensures that the record (or at least half of it) receives a well-deserved 30th anniversary tribute – provided her voice can be heard over the audience’s singalong. During the first verse of ‘Ironic’, she doesn’t say a word but instead extends her microphone as the crowd enthusiastically sings the iconic lyrics; later, in the near-final track ‘Uninvited’, she entrusts the audience to carry the song as she immerses herself in its instrumental interlude. However, it’s her timeless breakup anthem ‘You Oughta Know’ that strikes the hardest this evening: a sonic representation of both biting frustration and cathartic release, its empowering message about claiming space and embracing imperfection serves as a pertinent precursor – both musically and programmatically – to tomorrow’s headliner, Olivia Rodrigo.
Noah Kahan, another significant breakout artist of recent years, largely embodies the kind of performer one would anticipate, favoring minimalistic presentation (apart from a rustic knotted rope backdrop) over elaborate staging. He shares heartfelt interpretations of his widely loved, folk-infused songs with sincere appreciation, mentioning that since it’s his first time in Spain, he only expected recognition for his hit ‘Stick Season’. Yet, interspersed between songs are moments of (possibly unexpectedly) dark humor: he introduces the 2022 track ‘Everywhere, Everything’ as “a song about sex and worms”, and somewhat ominously declares early on that “[he’s] here to wipe the smiles off your faces tonight”. Presenting himself as a grittier Marcus Mumford, this slightly puzzling but amusing contrast to his earnest musicality clearly resonates with the large crowd.
British indie stalwarts Kaiser Chiefs are seasoned performers at festival stages. This summer marks two decades since the release of their cherished debut ‘Employment’, and the band is commemorating it with a series of major shows both domestically and internationally. Far from being jaded or overly self-serious (as some artists can be), their primary aim remains - as it always has - to create an unforgettable experience. Clad in a pinstriped blazer and evocatively positioned atop the stage's amps, frontman Ricky Wilson embodies the role of an energetic ringleader as the band charges through crowd favorites such as ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’, ‘Modern Way’, and ‘Ruby’. A surprise cover of The Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ adds an unexpected twist before they ramp up into ‘I Predict A Riot’, but it’s the bizarre animations playing on the screen behind the band that serve as tonight’s most noteworthy surprise: cats shooting lasers from their eyes, big-haired Troll dolls, and a Jurassic Park-style video game featuring cartoon versions of the Kaisers—it’s vivid and truly surreal.
In stark contrast to the theatricality of last night’s headliners Muse, as Nine Inch Nails takes the stage this evening, they do so without any props, accessories, or elaborate setup. Yet this minimalism only highlights the formidable presence of the industrial rock pioneers, whose powerful music and unique stage presence require no embellishment. Alternating between intense, heavy segments and more electronic, atmospheric moments, Trent Reznor and the band keep the engaged audience—most of whom are donned in NIN merchandise—enthralled by every sonic twist and turn, confident they will follow their direction. Shrouded in smoke and illuminated by strobe lights, their set spans everything from metal-in
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