First, I would like to say, I'm so happy you have found a song you like from Walk The Moon! I have loved them for years and years and it makes my soul so happy to know that their music is reaching so many new souls. However, I'm very sad that "Shut Up and Dance" is the one that made it to slot four on the Billboard Hot 100. I want you to know all of Walk The Moon.
Walk The Moon is weird. Front man, Nicholas Petricca, is quite possibly one of the strangest souls I have ever had the privilege of meeting. But it's a good weird. Walk The Moon is about so many different souls coming together and celebrating life. You are different. You are weird. But it's all so beautiful and we should celebrate it.
Walk The Moon live is a different kind of experience that you have to experience at some point in your life. There are no worries in the world at a WTM show.
There's a point during every show where Nick stands in the middle of the stage and tells everyone to "Take a moment to calm your body and your heart and your mind. Imagine your personal soul swirling around above you. Take all of the bullsh*t that makes you feel aahhhrgg. Bring it in towards you."
At this point, Nick starts grabbing at the air around him and bringing his arms in towards him. He continues with, "Once you have it all trapped in close to you, I want you to push it up towards the sky." This is always my favorite part because Nick pushes the imaginary "bullsh*t" farther and farther up and he always looks like he's struggling. He shows just how hard it is to take all the crap from your life and just let it go for a few minutes. This is the intro to "I Can Lift A Car." This is such an important part of a WTM show. If you don't take it seriously in every inch of the moment's weirdness, you're missing out.
I've heard so many different comments during Nick's weird little moments that range from "What drug is this dude on?" to people sobbing because they have never felt so free in so long. Walk The Moon shows give you this freedom you'll never ever be able to experience anywhere else. Lucky for us, Walk The Moon released a live album that is brand new. It's not just the songs, but Nick's weird ramblings as well. Now we get to experience this freedom everyday of our lives. (See "Meditation" for aforementioned releasing of imaginary bullsh*t.)
Here's the thing... "Shut Up and Dance" doesn't capture who Walk The Moon is. There's so much more to this band you are missing out on! They aren't cheesy lyrics that get stuck in your head about a cute, red-headed girl in sneakers dancing her heart out (love you, Lulu). They are about not caring what others think. They are about celebrating every weird square inch of your existence.
They are Walk The Moon and they are from Ohio and they are so much more than the one-hit-wonder everyone expects them to be.
Pick up "You Are Not Alone (Live at the Greek)" today and I promise, you'll never feel alone in your life ever again.
