Movements Bring the Ruckus to Omaha’s Slowdown with Tigers Jaw [Photos]

Concert season is starting again, and I was lucky enough to have it begin with Movements on their “Ruckus Tour” in Omaha. At this point in my career, most times that I find myself attending a show, I’ve seen at least the headliners perform before. This was the first show I have attended in a long time where each band on the bill was a first-time experience for me, and it did not disappoint.

First to take the stage was Paerish, a band I was entirely unfamiliar with before the event. Four young guys walked onto the stage and carried themselves with the professionalism of a well-vetted band that had been honing their craft for years. They had an incredibly chill stage presence, which matched their sound well. While everything they did was cohesive and cleanly executed, there was really nothing fancy or flashy about their set, but I liked that because it let the music speak for itself. The audience didn’t move much either, but you got a sense everyone was soaking in and connecting to every word projected from the stage.

The second act, Webbed Wing, brought a refreshing, unique blend of modern sound with hints of tones reminiscent of the “post” community in the ’90s and early 2000s. Captivating, bendy guitar riffs with swimmy progressions filled the room’s atmosphere. While most of their music was new to me, I couldn’t shake a sense of nostalgia while listening to their set. The audience must have resonated with this, as they gained considerable momentum during their set.

Tigers Jaw was a great lead into Movements. They brought a catchy, carefree alt-rock set with a mix of some keys and swancore elements that complimented Movements’ new direction very well that they’ve taken with their most recent release, ruckus. The second Tigers Jaw started performing, Ben Walsh started jumping around the stage, and there was a whole new level of energy in the room. Their drummer, Teddy Roberts, was particularly fun to watch. Every member showcased their unique talents, blending them without overpowering any elements.

It’s been seven full years since Movements burst onto the scene with one of the strongest freshmen releases I’ve seen in a long time, Feel Something. Where has the time gone? Their second album, No Good Left to Give, followed in 2020. While it charted well, it seemed to fly a little more under the radar. This might have been due to the COVID time warp, but they returned strong last fall with their junior release ruckus. This release held onto the classic sound created early in their career. Still, it brought in far less of a melancholy indie sound and leaned into an energetic rock direction with lighter lyrical themes than in the past. 

Patrick, Movements’ vocalist, spoke about this being their favorite record they’ve written and performed, along with the best crowd response to date. You could see this by the way they carried themselves on stage. It was still an emotionally charged performance, but lighthearted and fun at the same time. From constant crowd surfing and the occasional stage dive to the crowd screaming the words to nearly every song, you could see how much the audience resonated with the band’s performance.

Summary

There’s never been a better time to catch a Movements show. This was an all-around astounding show for a Monday night. I can only imagine how a weekend of this tour must go. It was a well-rounded bill, and all of the artists meshed incredibly well. It always feels great to catch an artist’s performance at the peak of their career. While I hope each artist continues to grow, this had the same spirit as other comparable experiences, and I would highly recommend anyone who’s a fan of these artists to catch them soon!

Movements (w/ Tigers Jaw, Webbed Wing, Paerish) @ Slowdown (Omaha, NE) on April 22, 2024

44 photos