Thai hardcore collective Whispers are on a unique trajectory. The unit's lauded 2024 release, Yom-Ma-Luk, was one of the unexpected standouts on the year, and contiinues to reach new fans as the band's stock climbs. Celebrated for their exlosive live shows and their volatile brand of time-tested hardcore, Whispers are among the genre's most promising practitioners, presenting a healthy indication of the current health of hardcore. 

Enlisted for a focused stretch of live dates to kick off 2026, the band teamed with Baltimore crew END IT for a series of East Coast dates surrounding their highly-anticipated set at FYA Festival in Florida. In addition to the slate of East Coast dates, Whispers also took on an exclusive West Coast dates, flanking Big Boy and Extinguish for capacity show celebrating that Real Bay Shit brand of hardcore - and it's ever-expanding universe. 

Armed with a serous work ethic, an infectious live energy that makes believers at every stop along the way and a true love of hardcore music and it's core sense of community, Whispers captured a first-hand account of their most recent run of the States. From convenience store pit stops, DIY venues, festival appearances, backstage haircuts, merch tables, slam pits and more, the band snapped a series of photos to frame an IRL recap of their time on the road.

Mike & Gap getting tattooed by Hank (Foundation) and Bo (Dead in the Dirt) at Only You Tattoo, Atlanta.

Stopped by Guitar Center, where Neung and Sam had an impromptu drum contest.

Chilling at the homies’ record store, Disorder Vinyl in Atlanta.

Van packed up and headed out for the first show in Columbia, South Carolina.

Arrived at the venue while END IT was doing soundcheck.

Ole working out backstage.

A few live shots from the first show of the tour at The Warehouse in Columbia, South Carolina. Also, Sam managing the merch table while figuring out that the card reader hadn’t arrived yet — so it was “Cash Only (For Now).”

A little souvenir from the FYA photobooth. We had a Morbid Angel rip-off design for FYA Fest, because it's Florida. Included some live photos of the set too.

Ole squeezed in to the fully packed van. 

Stopped at South of the Border to cheers a few bottles of Crush. 

Loading in merch up to the venue, KINGS, in Raleigh. Chilled a bit backstage then had one of the strangest merch spots, but it worked — we still sold merch.

Ricky from Flatspot Records joined us for the second-to-last show of the tour with END IT at The First Unitarian Church, one of Philly’s legendary venues.

Arrived at Elsewhere in New York and played the last show of the tour with END IT. Got a photo with Akil of END IT - one of our best friends. 

Mike and Ole with MIKE DIJAN, a New York hardcore legend.

Packing up and driving to New Kensington, PA during a snowstorm.

Get and Angel from Haywire after swapping their Stone Island jackets.

Gap getting a haircut from Tony (Crush Your Soul) at Preserving Underground during the festival.

People lined up to get tickets for our show with Big Boy and Extinguish for a packed house at Victory Stables. Josef from Sunami was out helping sell merch. 

Hanging out with RBS friends at Pho Saigon — one of the best meals of the tour. Brandon from Big Boy drove the van back and dropped us off at SFO Airport. We checked in with a ton of luggage and to fly back home.