With refreshing vitality and a splash of face paint, the alternative rock group Walk the Moon performed to an energetic crowd at South Side Ballroom on Wednesday night. The Ohio rockers stopped in Dallas on their way to Austin City Limits, where they'll play Saturday night.
Focusing on everything colorful and bold, the exuberant group has made a name for itself with feel-good pop rock tunes primed for singalongs. The lead singer, Nicholas Petricca, was sporting a fiery red-and-black fauxhawk to complement his group's boisterous style.
Catchy, chant-worthy choruses in tracks like "Sidekick" inspired crowd participation. But Petricca, along with the rest of the band, didn't simply ride the wave of the music; instead they led the hyped crowd with stamina that hid the fact that they're on the second leg of their nationwide "Talking Is Hard" tour. In fact, this is the second stop they've made in Dallas in the last five months -- the band played the same venue in May.
Having been to both shows, we can say they matched the hype of their last performance in Dallas, regardless of the fact that the set lists were similar.
Jumping between a second pair of drums and the keys, Petricca stays busy onstage, while simultaneously belting out rafter-reaching choruses like the one in "Different Colors." That track speaks to acceptance and unity.
The lesser-known song "Come Under the Covers" arrived in the middle of the 70-minute set with a not-so-explosive chorus, which allowed harmonies and solid drum work to take over. This quieter, seductive track proved that not every song has to be a powder-keg stunner.
But what would Walk the Moon be without its fun-loving style? So the dial was quickly cranked back up during "Work This Body." Easily one of the finest tunes of the night, it offered a cheerful melody and dance-worthy chorus, which got most of the fans jumping into the air.
Just about anyone can find themselves singing along to one of Walk The Moon's radio-friendly songs, a fact that's helped the band maintain its success for the past three years.
Even the summer chartbuster "Shut Up And Dance" hasn't gotten stale. The heart-pounding track made for the perfect closer just before a two-song encore, which of course ended with the song that started it all: "Anna Sun."
