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Blink-182, Devo, Wet Leg perform: 7 highlights from Shaky Knees Day 3

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  British Indie Rockers, Wet Leg, drew a huge crowd on Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale showed everyone why she's become a standout star over the last year. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: British Indie Rockers, Wet Leg, drew a huge crowd on Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale showed everyone why she's become a standout star over the last year. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

The third and final day of Shaky Knees Music Festival at Piedmont Park in Atlanta saw the high temperatures and eclectic lineups from the previous two days continue.

Sunday’s 20-act roster included three-time Shaky Knees participants Murder By Death, who are on their farewell tour; ‘80s new-wave stalwarts Devo, decked out in their signature Lego-style hats; and 4 Non Blondes, who proved they’re way more than their biggest hit, “What’s Up?”

In case you missed it, here are 7 highlights from Shaky Knees Day 3.

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  Franz Ferdinand jumped around in 90 degree heat and played their indie-rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3(RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: Franz Ferdinand jumped around in 90 degree heat and played their indie-rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3(RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Franz Ferdinand

Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand’s hour-long performance was filled with distorted guitar riffs (some performed by lead singer Alex Kapranos behind his head), playful keyboard melodies and groovy bass lines on “Bar Lonely,” “No You Girls,” “Take Me Out” and “This Fire.”

The quintet, who released their sixth album, “The Human Fear,” in January, treated the audience to album cuts “Night or Day,” “Audacious” and “Hooked,” the latter featuring an appearance from British hip-hop artist Masterpeace. On “Do You Want To,” Kapranos paid respect to Diane Martel, who directed the song’s music video and died on Thursday.

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  Franz Ferdinand jumped around in 90 degree heat and played their indie-rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3(RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: Franz Ferdinand jumped around in 90 degree heat and played their indie-rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3(RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Throughout the set, the audience engaged in fist pumps and sing-alongs and at one point even dropped to the ground at Kapranos’ request as they were singing.

“Atlanta, you sound good,” he told them, expressing his appreciation. — Christopher A. Daniel

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  New wave legends Devo took the Peachtree Street and played classics like "Whip It" to adoring fans. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: New wave legends Devo took the Peachtree Street and played classics like "Whip It" to adoring fans. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Devo

Have we talked enough about the heat? By Sunday afternoon, Piedmont Park felt it, with no shade and lots of dust. But that didn’t stop Devo from delivering one of the weekend’s most fun and eccentric sets.

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  New wave legends Devo took the Peachtree Street and played classics like "Whip It" to adoring fans. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: New wave legends Devo took the Peachtree Street and played classics like "Whip It" to adoring fans. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

A mic issue at the start was fixed quickly, and from there the Akron, Ohio band leaned into the quirks that made them legends. Their set moved through classics, with Whip It sending the crowd into full nostalgia mode. Vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh threw the video’s iconic, Lego-style red dome hats into the audience, and the band’s blend of satire, sci-fi theatrics and punk edge showed why they remain singular, even five decades on. — Avery Newmark

“Weird Al” Yankovic

“Weird Al” Yankovic brought humor and musical nostalgia to the Piedmont Stage during his hour-long set.

The Grammy-winning funnyman’s career spans four decades, spoofing chart-topping pop singles like Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Eat It”) and Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (“Like a Surgeon”). He first stepped onstage dressed like late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain for his “Smells Like Teen Spirit” parody “Smells Like Nirvana,” then he and his band channeled electronic group Devo, who played earlier in the evening, with yellow rubber suits and red geometric-shaped hats for “Dare to Be Stupid.

Yankovic performed his hip-hop parodies “It’s All About the Pentiums,” (spoofing Diddy’s “All About the Benjamins”) “White and Nerdy” (parodying Chamillionaire’s “Ridin”) and “Amish Paradise” (a tribute to Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”) while poking good-natured fun at Miley Cyrus with “Party in the CIA” and Red Hot Chili Peppers on “Bedrock Anthem.”

Yankovic, who paid tribute to soul singer James Brown at one point with a teal-colored cape draped on his back, closed his set with “The Saga Begins,” his take on Don McClean’s “American Pie” using characters from “Star Wars.” — Christopher A. Daniel

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  British Indie Rockers, Wet Leg, drew a huge crowd on Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale showed everyone why she's become a standout star over the last year. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: British Indie Rockers, Wet Leg, drew a huge crowd on Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale showed everyone why she's become a standout star over the last year. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Wet Leg

What started as an Isle of Wight duo is today the five-piece band Wet Leg. The group has skyrocketed in popularity since their self-titled debut won the 2023 Grammy for Best Alternative Album, and their Shaky performance showed why.

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  British Indie Rockers, Wet Leg, drew a huge crowd on Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale showed everyone why she's become a standout star over the last year. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: British Indie Rockers, Wet Leg, drew a huge crowd on Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale showed everyone why she's become a standout star over the last year. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers and the rest of the band opened with “Catch These Fists off their latest album, “Moisturizer,” and led the audience through a scream-along that rattled the park. — Avery Newmark

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  Alabama Shakes, led by Brittany Howard, cruised through their smooth roots rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: Alabama Shakes, led by Brittany Howard, cruised through their smooth roots rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes’ lead singer Brittany Howard told the audience at Peachtree Stage she wanted to bring some good energy to the set, and she delivered.

Howard and her bandmates ripped into a syrupy, Delta-inspired mix of Southern rock, blues, soul and psychedelic funk that allowed her to sing equal parts operatic and raspy.

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  Alabama Shakes, led by Brittany Howard, cruised through their smooth roots rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: Alabama Shakes, led by Brittany Howard, cruised through their smooth roots rock hits. Photo taken Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Howard, who wore a vest with an anti-ICE sentiment on the back, entertained the crowd with “Future People,” “Hang Loose,” “Guess Who,” “Dunes,” “Don’t Wanna Fight” and “Another Life,” a song released this year. — Christopher A. Daniel

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus closed the evening on the Ponce stage with a set that felt both intimate and historic. The Richmond, Virginia, songwriter built her reputation on brutally honest storytelling, both as a solo artist and as one-third of the supergroup Boygenius.

Between songs, she sipped tea to cheers, and one of the night’s defining moments came when Dacus officiated an onstage wedding during “Best Guess,” her latest single. Congratulations to the two fans, Casey and Madison; there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. — Avery Newmark

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  Headliners, Blink 182 closed out 2025's Shaky Knees with a 2 hour onslaught of hits to a packed Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: Headliners, Blink 182 closed out 2025's Shaky Knees with a 2 hour onslaught of hits to a packed Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Blink-182

Blink-182 closed Shaky Knees weekend with the same nonchalant candor that made them a successful rock band.

The trio, featuring bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker, came onstage like the starting lineup of a pro sports team. They settled into a cadence of loud (and speedy) guitar riffs and drum loops that took the audience back to the California-based band’s garage and skater rock roots.

68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga:  Headliners, Blink 182 closed out 2025's Shaky Knees with a 2 hour onslaught of hits to a packed Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)
68cd79f5c9b7fb3bf5168039 Atlanta, Ga: Headliners, Blink 182 closed out 2025's Shaky Knees with a 2 hour onslaught of hits to a packed Piedmont Park. AAJC 092025 Shaky Knees Day 3 (RYAN FLEISHER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Famous for making music videos in the nude and spoofing “Total Request Live”-era pop acts, Blink-182 turned up the amps and pyrotechnics for songs including “The Rock Show,” “First Date,” “Josie,” “Anthem, Part Two,” “All The Small Things” and “What’s My Age Again.” — Christopher A. Daniel

About the Authors

Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.

Avery Newmark covers travel, wellness, events and trending news for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With a dual background in film production and journalism, Avery came to the AJC after working as a video editor. She enjoys film photography and live music in her free time. Reach her at avery.newmark@ajc.com.

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