The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)
04/04/24
In the heart of San Francisco, amidst the vibrant energy of The Fillmore, the dynamic genre-defying trio Waterparks brought their electrifying energy for the second-to-last stop of their “Sneaking Out Of Heaven” tour. After releasing their fifth studio album, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, in April of last year, the band released another single entitled “SNEAKING OUT OF HEAVEN” in October which was added to the album and is what the tour is named after. The room, packed with eager fans that sold out the show, erupted with excitement as soon as the stage lights dimmed, the crowd ready to be immersed in the high-energy show delivered by Waterparks.
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. After each member took the stage, entering from doors at the center of the stage painted with upside-down crosses, frontman Awsten Knight’s vocals pierced through the air for the opening song, “Watch What Happens Next,” from their 2019 album, FANDOM. Backed by Geoff Wigington’s masterful guitar work and Otto Wood’s thunderous drumming, Waterparks unleashed their music that swept over the crowd, carrying them on a wave of pure sonic bliss that persisted through the night (which some fans channeled into crowd-surfing).
Their visual aesthetic was on clear display in their stage production, with a set design of a house facade with a set of stairs and picture-framed LED screens with visuals that flashed across them. Each song had its own on-screen visuals and lighting design to complement them along with perfectly timed cryo during a handful of songs. Oftentimes, the stage was washed with dark purple UV light, illuminating the green crosses painted on Awsten’s face. Partway through the set, the stage went dark, and a white sheet was pulled across the stage with a spotlight silhouetting Awsten sitting on the stage with people in hazmat suits walking around him as a narrative pertaining to religious guilt and trauma was projected on the sheet. The sheet dropped to reveal the addition of overgrowth and mannequins in hazmat suits draped over the set, and the band returned to the stage with unreleased track, “SOULSUCKER,” and then transitioned to “SNEAKING OUT OF HEAVEN.”
As the night continued, Waterparks showcased not only their music and the lore that is weaved through their music and set choices, but also their undeniable chemistry and stage presence. Awsten, the only one with a mic, engaged in witty banter with the audience and egged them on to chant Geoff and Otto’s names, a mainstay during their shows. All of Waterparks’ fans, from the super-dedicated ones on the barricade who camped out overnight with brightly colored hair and faces painted to those further back in the room were pulled into the energy on stage for the entire show. Reciprocating the energy on stage, the crowd created circle pits and, at one point, a rowing pit, hands raised in the air at all times – save for a three-song section with Awsten performing the songs on the piano. The rest of their 22-song set included many more fan favorites from their catalog, including “SELF-SABOTAGE” from INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, “21 Questions” from 2016 debut album Double Dare, and “I Miss Having Sex But At Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore” from FANDOM.
Finishing off the night with an encore, the energy in the room was brought to new heights with three hard-hitting song choices, beginning with “Numb” from Greatest Hits. Fan favorite “Turbulent” from FANDOM came next, featuring cryo, before ending with the hit from their latest album, “REAL SUPER DARK.” 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.
