Confession time.  I have fallen head over heels in love with up and coming band Walk the Moon.

This past February I saw the gents of Walk the Moon opened up for Young The Giant at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.  As much as I love me some Young the Giant, there was something about Walk the Moon’s intoxicating performance that demanded more of my attention, taking hold of me like an infectious disease.  I raced home after the show and immediately began listening to their self-released album I Want! I Want! on repeat. 

Later on in March I headed south to Austin, TX for SXSW with Walk the Moon at the top of my list of bands to see.  After a day of free drinks I got well…drunk and I lost my driver’s license whilst dancing my ass off in the front row for Walk the Moon’s set for the MTVu Woodie Awards Festival.  Despite the nightmare of losing my ID presented I still maintain that as my favorite SXSW experience from the weekend.

Fast forward to this past Friday when I had the ultimate pleasure of seeing Walk the Moon headline their Naked Feet tour at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.  As I was getting ready for the show the guys unveiled their new album (to be released this coming Tuesday) via Vevo’s 7in7 series where bands on the road make 7 music videos in 7 days. Even though it was past time for me to leave for the show, I parked myself at my desk to watch 7 self-made, creative, and cutesy music videos.  Below is the video they made for my favorite song off the new record called “Shiver.” It pictures some sweet dance moves from WTM’s Tour Manager Blake, a choreographed dance from the band at the 2:40 marker, and cameos from Of Monsters and Men (Check out the other videos from the 7in7 series here).

The show itself at Lincoln Hall can be summarized in one word: Electric.  British band Morning Parade opened the night revving up the crowd up with their ethereal and practiced sound.  Despite this being their first full US tour, a handful of people sang along to their single “Headlights” while the rest were happy to be among some of the first listeners of the band in the states. Morning Parade will also release their debut album in the US this coming Tuesday.

By the time Walk the Moon took the stage there was no more room on the general admission floor.  The sold out crowd had showed up in full mass, with the better part of the crowd sporting the signature ‘lost boys’ facepaint as a nod to the band’s “Anna Sun” music video. Nicholas, Eli, Kevin, and Sean danced their way through “Quesadilla,” “Blue Dress,” “Tightrope,” “Next in Line,” exploding with more energy for each song than most bands exert in their entire set.  In return the crowd fed off of their energy matching their every move whether or not they could reciprocate the lyrics.

After a fun-filled hour they polished off their set by dropping the disco ball of the venue during the last chorus of their single “Anna Sun.”  The crowd exploded as the squares of light from the ball chased around the room.  Finally, for the encore the band played their interactive “I Can Lift a Car” splitting the crowd down the middle having them sing different parts in a round putting a distinct emphasis on the lyrics “Oh, I hope you like it in Chicago.”

After the show I realized we had all witnessed history in the making. I believe within a short period of time Walk the Moon and all of their rabid fans will no longer fit into small clubs.  We’ll have to welcome the ‘mainstream’ music masses with open arms to their new found kingdom of scintillating Indie Pop Rock at bigger venues across the states.  If you ask me though, the bigger the crowd means a bigger party with more face paint and I can’t name a single band more deserving of every ounce of success coming their way than Walk the Moon.

I’ll finally get what I Want! I Want! when Walk the Moon’s self-titled debut album from RCA drops this Tuesday (The 19th).  Pick up a copy or two or ten or twenty.  Trust me, your ears and heart will thank you. 

Click here http://smarturl.it/WALKTHEMOON?iqid=yt to but the album when it comes out on Tuesday!