I'm Happier Now Thanks to Movements

Niis hit the stage first and delivered an energetic, heart-pounding set to the unsuspecting Boeing Center crowd. The lineup was predominantly filled with bands that were known for their emo ballads but Niis seems to have missed the message and instead brought its mix of pop infused hardcore-punk. The group can seamlessly blend a raw energetic hardcore punk style with bubbly vocals that can turn into screaming growls in an instant. I had never heard the group before but they instantly converted me into a fan.

Young shoe-gaze trio, Midrift was up next. I have a soft spot for Midrift. They were the first touring band I had the opportunity to photograph when I started by photography journey so I was excited for their set to begin. The group originally started when frontman, Gus Mehrkam, would craft songs and upload them onto TikTok and Spotify in 2023. He amassed hundreds of thousands monthly listeners doing this and decided to form a full band. Siblings, Kai Neukermans and Monoa Neukermans, joined the group and they started touring despite two of the members being in High School. The group has not looked back since. The trio performed a couple of my fave songs, "Unrequited" and "Safe and Sound", songs that mix shoe gaze's dreamy vocals and heavy guitars reminiscent of 90's alternative and grunge. Near the end of the set drummer, Kai, had a wicked drum solo that showed off his drumming chops. It's no wonder he was tasked with filling in for Pearl Jam's drummer at a 2022 Pearl Jam gig in California.

Balance and Composure hit the stage and it felt like a delicious appetizer before the main course at a restaurant. The band, hailing from Pennsylvania, are considered pioneers in the latest emo revival. Their music blends grunge, alternative, and post hardcore styles with poignant personal lyrics. The perfect band to open for Movements. The band formed in 2007 and had a run of 3 albums until they decided to take a hiatus in 2019. They regrouped in 2023 and hit the ground running dropping an EP and later a full length titled "with you in spirit" in 2024. They started their set with "Back of Your Head" and soon after a fight started in the crowd. This led to a hilarious remark by singer, Jon Simmons, "Who would fight at a Balance and Composure show?". The band ended their set with one of my favorite songs of their's "Postcard", a song that talks about feeling connected across large distances.

In between sets you could feel the excitement in the air building for Movements. The eager crowd was loud and packed tightly and I began to wonder how many crowd surfers I would see that night (a lot).  The band came out to a loud ovation from the crowd and began performing “Back in My Ways”, a personal favorite of mine that has been in constant rotation on my playlist the past few weeks. The track gradually grows from nothing but vocals and a smooth baseline into a heavy post-hardcore ballad. I found myself singing along to the lyrics while taking photos “When did I get this way? / My world becomes a maze / Changing my mind every day”. Singer, Patrick Miranda, has a knack at laying down his inner battles in his lyrics and the crowd seemed to agree as they sung along to every word.

The band, which just released their latest album "Happier Now" back in September largely stuck to this source material but that did not disappoint fans as they performed newer songs like "Dissolve Me" and "Happier Now". A testament to how this new record holds its own against the rest of the band's discography. The crowd understood the assignment as they jumped and crowd surfed throughout the set, which culminated with the band's hit, "Daylily". Every single mouth was moving during this song as the crowd sang along.

Honestly, I'm feeling happier now after this experience. There are not many things in life that beat being in a crowd like that. The energy was immense, everyone was holding onto each and every lyric, the amazing light show production, and the polished sound Movements has refined over the years. Couple that with the amazing high-quality merch I was able to snag: an amazing partially bedazzled hat that came with pins and a handwritten "Happier now" sharpie mark, plus a "Happier Now" branded disposable camera which I can't wait to develop. It was certainly a night to remember.