After having seen Movements as an opener countless times, their show at SWX on Tuesday night was their chance to prove their ability as a headliner. The set is opened by two songs from their latest album “Ruckus!” but promptly followed with hits from the band’s beloved debut album “Feel Something.” Fans on the barricade are passionately singing along to the lyrics. The crowd is moving in a way that almost resembles the ocean and has developed a life of its own. Crowdsurfers are flying across the room, and multiple moshpits are opened. Looking at this sea of people from above is almost distracting; I can’t help but let my eyes wander to the many people moving, finger-pointing, dancing, and surfing.
The group from California may not have the most captivating stage presence, but this does not take away from an overall tight, energetic, and passionate performance with a very healthy mix of old and new songs. Movements know which songs resonate with their fans, and the audience does not pass up the opportunity to show the band how much these songs mean to them. The crowd is deafening in all the best ways—with lyrics so personal and the ability to transfer such raw emotion into music, I was not expecting otherwise.
As the set is wrapping up, it seems that everyone in the room agrees Movements has proven they deserve this long-anticipated headline slot. The fans have one last chance to give their all and don’t waste a second doing so. As the first lines of “Daylily” echo through the room, the crowd is already singing along, and nearly a dozen crowd surfers make their way over the barricade before the first chorus hits. In the end, it is clear that reminiscing about those ‘pink cloud summers’ we have all been missing through the soundtrack and performance of Movements is the best way to spend a dark, cold, and moody Tuesday evening in November. The audience has ‘another reason to stay for a while.’
📸📝 by @dennemanphotography
Role: Photographer, Reviewer
Qualifications: First Class BA (hons) degree in Music Business at BIMM Bristol, first year certificate (Propedeuse) in Journalism at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Available for: gigs, shoots (mainly portraits) and tours!
First gig attended: technically Guus Meeuwis when I was younger (Dutch pop artist), first gig I bought a ticket for with my own money was One Direction on their Where We Are tour, but first ‘proper’ gig was Foals and Everything Everything in Amsterdam in 2016!
First shoot: Frank and Beans at The Crofters Rights early 2022, but first photo pass was Mayday Parade, Real Friends and As It Is at the Marble Factory on June 1st 2022
Dream gig: there are a couple of line-ups that I would love so it’s hard to choose, but I’d love to shoot Harry Styles one day
