November 19th, 2024 brought alternative indie pop band I Don’t Know How But They Found Me to Kemba Live! In Columbus, Ohio. The band — a solo project led by singer songwriter Dallon Weekes — originated in Salt Lake City, Utah and has been active since the mid-2010’s. I originally heard of this project in middle school as a result of Dallon Weekes’ stint as the bassist of the band Panic! At The Disco, and I fell in love with their unique sound on my first listen. I missed them when they stopped in my hometown during their 2022 The Thought Reform Tour, so I knew I had to see them this year when they played a venue only a ten minute drive from my campus.
Their current Gloomtown tour brought along Columbus based acts Jady and ALEXSUCKS to open the concert, and both sets totally blew me away. I attended the event solo, but I never felt lonely with how both of the bands actively engaged the crowd so early in the night. Kemba Live! might have hosted a concert-ready crowd, but the acts truly created an energetic atmosphere for everyone to come together and enjoy what live music has to offer. Jady made sure to get the crowd involved early on in their set, with lead singer Jarrett Doherty encouraging the crowd to sway their arms with him or clap to the beat of their songs. Towards the end of their time on the stage, Jady even challenged the crowd to create a song from scratch with their claps. ALEXSUCKS put on an equally great show, and encouraged us in the audience to dance along and match the energy of their songs. They even brought along a fan on stage at the last minute to play the guitar to their hit song “6 Packs and Cigarettes.” The fun and lighthearted atmosphere gave me exactly what I needed on a Tuesday night. All in all, they were the perfect choices to open up the show.
I Don’t Know How But They Found Me took the stage soon after the last opener, and they were just wonderful. They played a mix of songs from across their discography, including hits from their debut album, and even a wonderful addition from Weekes’ previous band The Brobecks. During the Brobecks’ addition, 2008’s “Visitation of the Ghost,” Weekes’ took an opportunity in the bridge to remind the crowd of concert etiquette — and then he entered the crowd. We’ve all heard of horror stories of artists doing something similar and having their personal space invaded, but a wave of relief swept over me when everyone just respected him as a human being and enjoyed what he was performing.
When he returned to the stage, he and the band managed to sneak in parts of songs like “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Hot to Go” by Chappell Roan — all the while structurally staying in the bridge of V”isitation of the Ghost.” As a musician myself, it found it fun in the moment and extremely impressive in hindsight. For other songs, like their new hit “Downside,” Weekes had the audience start the songs themselves with easy vocals that you can find within the albums studio recording. Throughout the show, Weekes made clear his gratitude for the crowd’s enthusiasm and portrayed his thanks in song or in short speeches. They ended with their 2020 release “RazzMatazz,” and then proceeded to come back on stage with two encore songs. Before they started their song, “Nobody Likes the Opening Band,” Weekes clarified for the audience that nothing could be less true. Whether you’re a guitarist, or a magician, or even a ventriloquist, you will always be someone’s opening act. No matter how strongly you feel like you won’t make it, Weeks says, it’s simply wonderful that you’re on stage in the first place. They officially closed the show with 2017’s “Choke,” and I left to go back home.
I found the show nothing short of wonderful. After a year of missed dates and being unable to afford tickets, I found it incredible to finally lose myself to the crowd. Overall, it was a night filled with unforgettable moments, and IDKHOW shored up my faith in me why live music remains such a powerful and cherished experience.
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