Movements Pulses Through Royal Oak Theatre
On October 20th, post-hardcore/emo band Movements played at Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan, in support of their album, ‘Happier Now’. This tour was supported by Balance and Composure, Midrift, and NIIS (pronounced Nice). This diverse lineup gave fans both new and classic bands for fans of post-hardcore, emo, and shoegaze.
The venue was filled to the brim, as the show sold out. Buzzing with energy, fans waited for the first band, NIIS, to take the stage. Coming from Los Angeles, they immediately lit up the stage with a raw punk sound, with riffs almost surf-inspired! Commanding the stage with a commanding presence, vocalist Mimi Doe is the embodiment of a rock star. This set was the perfect warmup for what lay ahead for the concert. For those who walked into the venue not knowing who NIIS was, they definitely walked out a fan.
Next up was Midrift, a rising shoegaze band from San Francisco. Although they didn’t have the same aggressive energy as NIIS, they hypnotized the crowd with their hazy riffs. Fans of Deftones, Title Fight, My Bloody Valentine, and Whirr would enjoy this band! This band has very young members, and they started out by playing local shows and posting their music on social media; through this, they attracted a large following, leading them beyond San Francisco.
Following their set, Balance and Composure took the stage. This is one of the most defining bands of the 2010s post-hardcore and emo scene. After announcing their hiatus in 2019 following the release of three studio albums, Balance and Composure reunited in 2023 with the release of ‘Too Quick to Forgive’ and ‘With You in Spirit’. Having such an influential band on this bill was big for fans of this genre. Taking the stage, they opened with ‘Ain’t It Sweet’ and moved into fan-favorite songs such as ‘Tiny Raindrop’ and ‘Postcard’. Overall, Balance and Composure dominated the stage with their years of experience, leaving fans excited for Movements.
The air buzzed with excitement as the crowd grew loud. A black light illuminated the banner that hung on the stage, reading ‘Movements’. With this band still being relatively new, they have quickly gained a cult following. After playing only one show, Movements was able to secure a multi-album deal with Fearless Records. After the release of their EP, ‘Outgrown Things’, it was named one of the 12 Best EPs of 2016 by Alternative Press. This band quickly made their mark on the emo and post-hardcore scene. With the release of their album ‘No Good Left to Give’, their second full-length album, the band was able to land in the top 10 of Billboard’s Alternative Chart.
With the release of their new album, ‘Happier Now’, fans were especially excited to see new material performed. The lights flickered in the venue, and lead vocalist Patrick Miranda entered the stage. The crowd roared with excitement as the opening notes of ‘Back in My Ways’ echoed throughout the venue. This quickly transitioned into their upbeat song from their new album, ‘Dissolve Me’, with everyone in the venue echoing the words back. Additionally, they played fan favorites such as ‘Full Circle’, ‘Kept’, ‘Skin to Skin’, ‘Colorblind’, and ‘Daylily’. Fans knew every single word of these songs, as the lyrics reverberated off the venue walls. Security caught handfuls of crowdsurfers while fans gleefully pushed each other in a push pit. Movements truly had an unforgettable set, leaving fans hungry for the next time they come to Michigan.
