WEST 22ND BRINGS THEIR TO BE OR NOT TO BE TOUR TO CHARLOTTE
NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE — CHARLOTTE, NC
This past weekend, West 22nd brought their TO BE OR NOT TO BE tour to Charlotte, North Carolina, packing the Neighborhood Theatre wall to wall. With support from the dynamic duo Dipsea Flower, the Austin-based band was set to provide a memorable Saturday night.
Armed with suits, ties, and the absence of shoes, Dipsea Flower perfectly set the tone for the night ahead. I hadn’t been familiar with the group beforehand; however, with songs such as "Hummingbird" and "Sundance", I couldn’t help but leave as a fan. I wasn’t the only one, as other showgoers swarmed the merch stands after their set, eager to say hello.
The energy was swelling through the never-ending crowd, anxiously awaiting for West 22nd’s debut. As the silhouettes of the members emerged under the purple lights, the walls began to reverberate off the echoes of applause. While some groups prefer to ease into their sets, the group of friends came out like a cannon, immediately bursting into "Laugh It Off". Frontman Logan Madsen left no square inch of the stage untouched. He bounced from one end to another, before immersing himself onto the barricade itself. It was almost as if he made it his mission to ensure every person in the crowd felt seen.
The night coursed on with the elated atmosphere never wavering. The group worked their way through their jam-packed setlist, highlighting crowd favorites such as "Love On The Run" and "Savannah". One of my favorite parts of the evening was their performance of "I Wonder Why". As soon as the first strums began, flashlights illuminated. One by one they continued until the room transformed into a sea of twinkling lights. It was the type of moment that showcases just how well their work can evoke a variety of emotions. Before wrapping up their incredible performance, they treated everyone with covers of Jack Johnson’s "Upside Down" and Tyler Childers’ "Charleston Girl", earning well-deserved love from the masses.
West 22nd has steadily been gaining popularity, notably for their self-proclaimed "carousel rock” sound – characterized by dynamic vocals and ever-changing tempos that are constantly keeping the listeners anticipating what will come next. Their unique sound translates perfectly to a live setting, with every person captivated by the melodic swells. At one point, Madsen simply said, “Let’s just have fun,” and that is exactly what you feel when watching this group perform.
Tonight marked the halfway point for the tour, but there is no stopping West 22nd. This was a night that Charlotte will be talking about for the foreseeable future, and I have no doubt that they will make a similar impact in any city they touch.
