Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Members: Nicholas Petricca (Vocals, Keyboard/Synth), Eli Maiman (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Sean Waugaman (Drums, Backing Vocals), Kevin Ray (Bass, Backing Vocals), Lucky West (Touring Member - Keyboard, Percussion)
Biography: Based in Ohio (as the band is sure to remind you), and formed in the mid 2000s, Walk the Moon began largely as the brainchild of frontman, and then student at Kenyon College, Nicholas Petricca. Following several significant lineup changes, and a few years, WTM finally released their independent debut, “I Want! I Want!” in 2010. Drawing inspiration from new-wave acts such as Talking Heads and English Rock bands such as Genesis and The Police, the album included several songs that would catch significant airplay, including their breakout into the indie rock scene, “Anna Sun”. Tour dates and festival appearances (including the band’s first Roo) aplenty followed, as well as a record deal with RCA and the release of their self-titled commercial debut - a record that included many tracks from their independent release, with a few omissions and new songs in their place. Of note, the songs “Tightrope” and “Quesadilla” were featured in various commercials and video games including FIFA 13.
Though “Walk the Moon” helped the band get their foot in the door, their true breakthrough would come in 2014 with the release of the single “Shut Up + Dance” and subsequent sophomore album, “Talking is Hard”. The track went on to peak at #4 of the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Alternative Songs chart, and also brought the band a pair of Billboard Music Awards for Top Rock Song and Top Radio Song. Furthermore, the band rode the SU+D success to countless television appearances and tireless touring.
Personal matters soon prompted a touring break that ultimately turned into a period of writing and recording, resulting in their most recent effort, “What if Nothing”, which was released in 2017. Though nowhere near successful as their prior release, the album included several songs that have been featured in various commercials, movies, etc. Moreover, as a band that prides itself on its live show, the group has returned to its schedule of relentless touring. With sights high even despite a high level of success thus far, the band is determined to remain a fixture in the music scene for years to come.
Major Discography: I Want! I Want! (2010), Walk the Moon (2012), Tightrope EP (2013) Talking is Hard (2014), You Are Not Alone (Live Album - 2016), What if Nothing (2017)
Sounds Like
Genre: Pop Rock, Synth Rock
Similar Artists: Local Natives, Bad Suns, Bleachers, The Griswolds, Young the Giant
Similar Bonnaroo Artists: Hippo Campus, Catfish & the Bottlemen (sort of)
Suggested Listening
I tried to put together a playlist with a decent mix of songs I just enjoy and songs that are likely to be played live. Unfortunately, some of my favorites (e.g., Fixin', Drunk in the Woods) are pretty much never played live at this point. There's also a couple videos below of songs that are either rare (Iscariot) or non-existent (Blue Dress) in their current live catalogue.
I managed to see these guys a solid 6 times between 2012 and 2015, as I was honestly a huge fan in my late high school/early college years. I saw them in venues spanning small clubs to festival main stages and every time out, they brought an insane amount of energy. I remember distinctly, at ACL 2013, them drawing a progressively bigger crowd to the point where the field was about as full as it could be for a 2PM set on a hot day in central TX. They’re great about involving the audience and also have a good number of what I think are really cool live traditions/rituals (e.g., face paint, a “meditation” during ‘I Can Lift a Car’). A lot of that stuff surely can come across as cheesy from the outside, but I’ve found them to make for fun and even powerful experiences. They are big on acceptance and love, and make those pretty big themes during their shows as well. Also, they do pretty cool covers of both “Burning Down the House” and “All These Things That I’ve Done”. Overall, they’re a fun time, and I think anyone that catches them will probably enjoy them as long as they go into it with an open mind.
I think this performance does a really good job of exemplifying the energy they bring.
I also was able to find this footage from the first time I saw them, which is pretty cool.
Interesting Facts
- Their name is derived from The Police track, “Walking on the Moon”.
- Petricca is the lone member remaining from the original lineup formed in 2006.
- “Anna Sun” is named after one of Petricca’s favorite college professors, as it is a song thematically based on the emotions from that time in his life.
- Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes (lol) released an official remix of “Anna Sun”.
- They opened for The Rolling Stones back in 2015, and will be supporting Muse on their upcoming tour as well.
- This will be the band’s third time playing Bonnaroo, having played past sets at Cafe Where (2011) and at That Tent (2013).
Personal Notes
As I mentioned earlier, I got into WTM during my formative years, so they’ve got the nostalgia factor going for them with me in particular (not to mention that a friend of mine that went with me to my first WTM show will be going to the fest this year). I first came across them after stumbling upon the “Anna Sun” video on youtube, and then the full I Want! I Want! album, and remember being entirely captured by many of the soaring vocal harmonies over energetic drum and synth pop/piano patterns that were present in much of their early stuff (side note - tbh, for those looking to listen to their best stuff, I’d just recommend looking up that first independent album on Youtube, though much of that material is no longer a part of their live catalogue). Admittedly, they kind of lost me with their most recent release (which I think is fair - most of it was straight cheese/cringe tbh), but though they’ve moved away from some of the style that first caught my attention, I’m still pretty excited to catch them again after a few years away from their shows. If the music isn’t for you, then it isn’t for you. Still, like I said earlier, they’re a really kind-hearted group of guys who put on a show full of positive energy and vibrant music that will get you dancing and leave you feeling good.
Bonnaroo '15/'16/'17/'18/'19 - ACL '13/'14/'15/'17/'18 - Fun Fun Fun '14 - SXSW '13/'14/'15 - FPSF '16
2019 Shows: 4/30 - Vampire Weekend 6/28 - Father John Misty & Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 9/6 - Cardi B w/ Teyana Taylor 9/28 - Vulfpeck w/ The Fearless Flyers
Also found Anna Sun and then I want I want. That album is still great and love that you included Blue Dress. Probably my favorite song of theirs.
I've only seen them once, back in 2012 I think, but might check them out if there's nothing else going on. I never got too into Talking is Hard and haven't listened to their latest at all, but my girlfriend and I both have enough nostalgic love for that first album that it'd be a fun time
Also found Anna Sun and then I want I want. That album is still great and love that you included Blue Dress. Probably my favorite song of theirs.
I've only seen them once, back in 2012 I think, but might check them out if there's nothing else going on. I never got too into Talking is Hard and haven't listened to their latest at all, but my girlfriend and I both have enough nostalgic love for that first album that it'd be a fun time
To this day, I still think The Liftaway and Blue Dress are among their best songs they've ever put out. Thankfully, they still play Lisa Baby, ICLAC, and of course Anna Sun almost every set as far as I know.
Also, honestly I'd stay away from the latest release as a whole lol. Whereas TIH I felt did a good job of channeling new-wave elements and other sounds from that era of music, What if Nothing really just goes in the direction of cheese pop (the lead single, One Foot, does a pretty good job of exemplifying that). There are bright spots but they don't do enough for me to make it through a front-to-back listen.
Bonnaroo '15/'16/'17/'18/'19 - ACL '13/'14/'15/'17/'18 - Fun Fun Fun '14 - SXSW '13/'14/'15 - FPSF '16
2019 Shows: 4/30 - Vampire Weekend 6/28 - Father John Misty & Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 9/6 - Cardi B w/ Teyana Taylor 9/28 - Vulfpeck w/ The Fearless Flyers
Post by Nathan Fieldcяab on Jan 22, 2019 15:54:47 GMT -5
I don't know anything of theirs beyond SU&D (which isn't really up my alley but also has the added problem of being suuuper overplayed), but I'm willing to check out some other tracks! Thanks for putting this together.
Walk the Moon is a great pop album. It's catchy, colorful, and they haven't gone yet into cheese-pop territory. "Iscariot" is still one of my favorite songs, even though it's not representative of their overall sound at all. I saw them in That Tent at Roo 13 and at a small venue in Philly a couple years ago (after the SU+D single was released but before the corresponding album) - both times were very high energy and a fun show. I agree that their new music is pretty cheese-poppy, but if there are no conflicts I'll still check out their show.
Watched part of the set in 2013. It was ok. I won't be at their set this year. They were high energy on a Thursday night set--I thought they were on The Other (not That Tent as OP states) but it was my first ever day at Roo so maybe my memory is a little off.
I'm not into their music but they're nice guys FWIW. I met Nick a couple of times through a friend that knows them all pretty well.
oh yeah, for sure. I got to talk with them after a couple of their smaller shows, and they’re all really cool. Sean & Eli are total music nerds (and I think their playing is what holds the live shows together), and the other guys are just genuinely kind people.
Bonnaroo '15/'16/'17/'18/'19 - ACL '13/'14/'15/'17/'18 - Fun Fun Fun '14 - SXSW '13/'14/'15 - FPSF '16
2019 Shows: 4/30 - Vampire Weekend 6/28 - Father John Misty & Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 9/6 - Cardi B w/ Teyana Taylor 9/28 - Vulfpeck w/ The Fearless Flyers
Watched part of the set in 2013. It was ok. I won't be at their set this year. They were high energy on a Thursday night set--I thought they were on The Other (not That Tent as OP states) but it was my first ever day at Roo so maybe my memory is a little off.
honestly you’d know better than I would haha, I wasn’t there. I just based that off of a couple videos I found that said that was the tent they were at - I couldn’t really tell for myself. All I know for sure is it was a tent set lol.
Bonnaroo '15/'16/'17/'18/'19 - ACL '13/'14/'15/'17/'18 - Fun Fun Fun '14 - SXSW '13/'14/'15 - FPSF '16
2019 Shows: 4/30 - Vampire Weekend 6/28 - Father John Misty & Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 9/6 - Cardi B w/ Teyana Taylor 9/28 - Vulfpeck w/ The Fearless Flyers
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