wavves @ ocean mist 8/8/22

first song i ever heard: everything is my fault

current favorite: demon to lean on

i showed up right when the doors opened at 8 PM because my inner teen would've beat the shit out of me if i wasn't being squished onto the stage at this show. which is why i was surprised to see two major lines already waiting by the entrance. within a few hours, i'd know why.

the crowd was exactly what i hoped for: a room of adults who looked like they didn't have a lot of friends growing up. and i mean that in the best way possible. no, really. a group of men asked me, with no intro or anything, "how did you find out about Wavves?" to which i responded: "i didn't have a lot of friends growing up." they laughed, nodded in agreement, and cleared a path for me to get to the front. (thanks for that). there i was standing in a sea of fully-tattooed bodies sporting vintage t-shirts and funky footwear. aside from three girls i'd gone to middle school with, every fan i met was from a different state. even if you don't know or like Wavves, it's undeniable how deeply they are loved if a couple hundred fans drive hours to a local bar just to see them.

i forgot how good openers can be at concerts like this. first up was a band called Smut. the lead singer wore a dress that was definitely thrifted and almost had a pilgrim vibe to it. this is a compliment. i couldn't really hear the lyrics because the mic was having some obvious technical difficulties, but the band as a whole was incredible. the band members swayed to the music. eyes closed, just being cool. it was loud and calm simultaneously. a good start to the evening.

up next was Boyo. my eyes were instantly drawn to the cup of soy milk the lead singer kept on stage. i tried to ask about it, but was met with the look of annoyance. i guess i would be annoyed, too. anyways, they rocked. i mean they were really, really good. like, no one knew any of the words to their songs but we just had to start jumping around. i want them to headline someday and i'll be stalking their instagram (@hello_boyo_) every single day until i finally see that announcement.

finally... Wavves. my sweet, baby Wavves. the band i never thought i'd live to see. seriously. these guys hadn't been on tour in forever (and i'm talking pre-covid) and younger me already accepted the fact that i'd have to love them from a distance. boy do i love it when i'm wrong. it was so refreshing to see an entire crowd sing basically every word to every song from start to finish. Wavves doesn't have or need one viral song. they're just good at what they do. Nathan Williams, the lead singer, and Stephen Pope, the bassist, kept checking in with the crowd throughout the night either to hand us waters, pour beer on us, shoot the shit, or tell annoying drunks to shut up. (well, they were actually really nice and understanding with them). i try not to fangirl over stuff like this, especially not while standing in a crowd where everyone is punching each other or catching stage divers. but i couldn't help but get a little flustered when Williams handed me the last water bottle he had. i waited until their last song, Green Eyes, to steal the setlist right in front of me to beat the traffic.

it was the first time i didn't feel post-concert depression and i think it had everything to do with the fact that Wavves' energy stayed consistent all night. at first i was bummed they didn't play any of their mellower songs, but i realize that's probably a good thing. we all jumped and screamed for their entire performance. we can't forget about the positive tone Smut and Boyo set for the night, too. everyone was happy to be there. thank you Ocean Mist for setting up an event that i'll never forget, and i am forever grateful for all the music Wavves has created over the years. you will always be on the soundtrack to my healing.