On the balmy evening of Nov. 20, hundreds of people decked out in brightly colored dyed hair and band t-shirts, spikey chokers and bracelets and boots made for walking and stomping were lined up outside the Revolution Live venue in Fort Lauderdale. All waiting and practically buzzing with excitement to finally experience rising pop-punk band Waterpark’s Night Out on Earth tour to promote their latest album, “Greatest Hits.”
The opening artist, Phem, was nothing short of memorable and simply fantastic. Hailing from Los Angeles, Phem is an alternative musician whose music is self-described as “sad, angry, cute.” Their set, featuring singles “Congratulations, “American beauty” and “Silly putty,” along with an energetic cover of “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus, was exactly as they described it to be. Midway through the set, the guitarist announced it was his grandmother’s 81st birthday, and upon bringing her out and showering her in many praises, led the crowd in a heartwarming rendition of “happy birthday.” The set continued with a high energy performance after performance by the simply magnetic Phem. They have certainly gained a new fan and I cannot wait to see what they do next.
Once Phem left the stage with a round of applause, the anticipation for Waterparks began. Minutes dragged on like hours, but once the lights dimmed and the intermission playlist cut, the night erupted in a clamor of excitement. Waterparks opened with the opening track to their new album, “Greatest Hits,” which was an electrifying opening that set the stage for high paced energy that carried out throughout the entire evening. The set continued, playing songs off of the new album, “Numb,” and “Lowkey as Hell,” along with fan favorites off of their previous albums, “Watch What Happens Next,” “Take Her to the Moon” and “Blonde.” Song after song the band continued with charisma and electrifying energy like no other, leading the crowd like a piper to a mosh pit.
Being at the barricade was as much of an experience as the concert itself, and despite being pushed around and more than once having a crowd surfer’s foot in my face, the compassion I felt from the fans was something I have never experienced before. Throughout the concert I would see constant checkups and reassurances from the people around me, followed by wild-eyed thumbs up by someone who just emerged from a pile of crowd surfers. It was a thrilling sensation of community that I genuinely cannot wait to experience again.
Things slowed down to a rolling calm with a wonderful one-man acoustic set by front man Awsten Knight. He performed a surprising acoustic rendition of some of their songs, like the incredibly sweet “Lucky People.” Before beginning “Lucky People,” Knight encouraged those who were able enough to carry their friends or significant others on their shoulders, and perched on top of my boyfriend, looking down and seeing my best friend’s eyes shining in her waving her phone light and basking in the sea of illuminated souls swaying in unison, I realized indeed how much of a lucky person I was to be in that moment.
Waterparks picked up the pace once more, throwing a very willing audience back into the electrifying fray of hyper pop and pop punk with “Stupid for You,” “Turbulent,” and “Snow Globe,” ending the concert with the last song off of their album, “See You In The Future.” And what a song to end the night on. It was a flash bomb of music and noise, bodies moving in a single continuous wave, the world was rushing about us, time and space melding together as we went through a hyperspace of strobe lights and mist. It left me reeling, as if I had just experienced a spiritual and physical whiplash. We left the venue trembling, buzzing with left over adrenaline and possible tinnitus and little nauseous but unable to contain our anticipation for the next concert.
It was truly a night out on Earth I will never forget and I cannot wait to see them in the future.
