DC is known for many things, but waterparks are not one of them. This week, DC had Waterparks for a very limited time only — on stage at the 9:30 Club, that is.
On March 18 and March 19, Waterparks with support from Loveless brought their Sneaking Out of Heaven Tour to DC. Waterparks is frontman Awsten Knight, guitarist Geoff Wigington, and drummer Otto Wood. Though inspired by pop-punk and rock artists like Blink 182 and Green Day, Knight has spoken out about moving away from labels as they enter a more experimental era of their sound.
The band is currently touring their 2023 record, Intellectual Property. The record is their latest release and fifth studio album.
Stream Intellectual Property by Waterparks on Spotify:
From the moment someone stepped on stage — including the openers — fans were crowd surfing, and though many had x-es on their hands, symbolizing under 21, they were absolutely veterans at it. Much like a slide at well, a waterpark, fans would crowd surf from the sound board front of house to the front of the stage, land in front of the barricade, and run to the back to do it again. The crowd’s energy was electric, unlike any crowd I had witnessed at 9:30. At the same time, mixed in between mosh pits and rambunctious crowd surfers, off to the sides, friends were dancing and hugging.
While showcasing their newest release, Waterparks also played from earlier records, a cover of “Why Can’t I” by Liz Phair. For just under three hours, the crowd enjoyed a full band set, a medley, and four acoustic songs. They truly brought their all.
Leading up to doors opening, Knight posted an Instagram story in anticipation of a sold-out night one, assuring he, Wigington and Wood would be sure to bring unexpected older songs to the stage for night two. It was a special tour stop for them as well.
Before Waterparks, alternative rock duo, Loveless supported the tour: Julian Comeau and Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail. Formed in 2020, a year many people spent at home on Tiktok, Loveless first gained attention online. Their covers have especially blown up, including their take on Billie Eilish’s song, “Happier Than Ever.”
When introducing the song, Comeau asked the crowd who found them on the app. When the crowd cheered, he said “RIP Tiktok, it’s getting banned. Do you know what’s not? This song!” Even if supporters weren’t familiar with their sound, their humor and energy kept the evening going strong. In addition to tracks from their LP and EP, Loveless also played “Happier Than Ever” combined with “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush. Though unlikely artists to be paired together, it was nothing short of iconic and impressive.
Waterparks Setlist
Watch What Happens Next
Blonde
Fuzzy / Violet! / American Graffiti / The Secret Life of Me / Just Kidding / See You in the Future / Lowkey As Hell
Why Can’t I (Liz Phair cover)
Stupid for You
You’d Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out to Get You)
SOULSUCKER
SNEAKING OUT OF HEAVEN
Magnetic
RITUAL
SELF-SABOTAGE
BRAINWASHED
FUCK ABOUT IT
High Definition (Piano Acoustic)
Snow Globe (Piano Acoustic)
Crying Over It All (Piano Acoustic)
21 Questions (Guitar Acoustic except last chorus and outro)
I Miss Having Sex but at Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore
FUNERAL GREY
Numb
Encore
Turbulent
REAL SUPER DARK
Here are some more photos of Waterparks performing at 9:30 Club on March 18, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Sami Pye.
