02 May Walk The Moon Leave The Crowd Glowing

On the JetBlue stage, the anthemic intro to the Lion King began playing and excited screams came from a large crowd that was formed.

The four members of indie band, Walk The Moon, walked onto the stage last Sunday and were greeted by the audience.

The Ohio based group formed in 2008 and gained some recognition in 2011 in the underground scene with its single “Anna Sun.” But the band really made the map in 2014 when its song “Shut Up and Dance” — an alternative pop song that sounds like its straight out of an 80’s movie soundtrack — was introduced to the world. The single is the band’s highest charting song to date.

Walk The Moon opened with its song, “Jenny,” off its debut album. Lead singer, Nicholas Petricca, who also plays the keyboard and synth with the band, walked out wearing all white, his hair bleach blonde.

Courtesy of SunFest

“We would like to get this started with a little bit of exercise,” Petricca said. “Let’s burn some calories tonight!” The crowd jumped along, raising their JetBlue glow sticks in the air as the band played songs like “Sidekick” and “Avalanche.”

Walk The Moon sounds like a combo of Styx and fellow SunFesters, Duran Duran, but with a modern twist. Like if those groups had a baby with Vampire Weekend.

The group’s incorporation of synthesizers and rhythmic percussion, coupled with four-part harmonies makes for an enticing set that is Walk The Moon. As the group finished playing its song, “Shiver Shiver,” an audience member simply said, “wow.”

Before finishing, guitarist Eli Maiman started rhythmically strumming his part for the band’s song, “Shut Up And Dance.” The crowd was cheering and dancing to the song up until the four band members walked off the stage.

Within seconds, the crowd started a ‘one more song’ chant. The band complied. “Florida, we’ve got one more song for you,” Petricca said. “I’m so excited to see some fireworks tonight.”

The band closed with the song that started it all, “Anna Sun.” The crowd loyally sang word for word, and just like Petricca wanted, one preview firework shot into the sky as the band performed.