Show Review: Waterparks at Baltimore’s Rams Head Live
The dynamic genre-defying trio Waterparks brought their electrifying energy to Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD for a sold-out show (amongst many sold-out dates) and the half-way mark of their ‘Property’ Tour. The tour supports their fifth studio album, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, released mid-April this year after a year-long rollout. The 90-minute concert featured 9 of the 11 songs on the new album as well as at least one song from all four of their previous full-length albums.
From the moment the stage lights dimmed in the venue, signifying the start of the show, the crowd erupted with palpable excitement, ready to be immersed in the high-energy world of Waterparks. The anticipation only built with an extended introduction as the band came out one by one. Finally, the acapella start of ‘ST*RFUCKER,’ the first song on INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, began, with frontman Awsten Knight and the crowd's voices singing clearly in unison. As the stage lit up in multicolor lights and the instruments kicked in, the atmosphere transformed into a frenzy of jumping bodies, euphoric cheers, and hands raised high in the air.
With Awsten’s vibrant personality and captivating stage presence, guitarist Geoff Wigington running all over the place, and drummer Otto Wood holding down the rhythm, the trio commanded the stage. Awsten’s boundless energy was infectious, as he effortlessly interacted with the audience, creating an intimate connection that made the show feel like it was in a small club rather than a 1,500 capacity venue. Not only did he address the whole crowd throughout the show, including shouting out the Baltimore crowd as one with “top vibes,” he spoke directly to individuals in the crowd, randomly responding to things people shout out – he found a perfect transition to ‘2 BEST FRIENDS’ from INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY when he responded to someone saying they came with their best friends for their birthday by asking “how many?” and them yelling back “two!”
The show continued with an astounding level of energy for the entire night, with the band and the crowd in an insane positive feedback loop. There were mosh/circle pits all night, even in between songs at Awsten’s request, and crowd surfers constantly making their way toward the front. Even during a section of the show with more mellow, acoustic guitar-featuring songs, the crowd found a way to stay energetic. Before an acoustic performance of ‘Lucky People’ from their 2018 album Entertainment, the crowd opened up a pit not to mosh, but to play Twister, which amused the band so much that Awsten changed a lyric in the song to “playing Twister on the floor.” Awsten took the mellower section of the set as a chance to express genuine gratitude for the crowd, thanking them for coming and explaining that them listening to the album means so much to him since he’s put so much of his own “personal weird shit” on the album, before launching into ‘CLOSER’ off the new album. The energy picked back up for the last song of the pre-encore set with the last song from the new album, ‘A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH.’
The band’s performance was perfectly complemented by a visual feast, their visual aesthetic on clear display. The stage production was a mesmerizing spectacle, complete with simple yet stunning set design of a house facade with a set of stairs and picture-framed LED screens with visuals that flashed across them. Every song had its own on-screen visuals and lighting design to complement them along with perfectly timed cryo during a handful of songs, including, of course, during the encore. The energy in the room was brought to new heights with three hard-hitting song choices for the encore, beginning with ‘REAL SUPER DARK’ from INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Fan favorite ‘Turbulence’ from their 2018 album FANDOM came next, featuring cryo, before ending with the hit from their new album, ‘FUNERAL GREY.’ It was the perfect way to end an unforgettable night filled with raw energy, exceptional musicianship, and mutual appreciation between the band and their dedicated listeners.
From start to finish, the concert was an exhilarating journey, leaving fans with a lasting impression and a thirst for more. Waterparks’ the ‘Property’ tour continues across the States through June 13, and it’s definitely a show worth seeing live.
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