The Night Shift Tour kicked off on Saturday at Center Stage in Atlanta to a sold-out crowd, setting the bar high for the rest of the tour. Smallpools and Grayscale, two leading artists on opposite ends of the alternative spectrum, co-headlined an unforgettable evening of sonically diverse performances.
Starting off were supporting acts The Romance and Moody Joody. With The Romance’s drum-driven rock and Moody Joody’s playful pop, the openers pushed the genre boundaries set by the co-headliners even further, offering an even greater dynamic range to the receptive audience. There was a decent amount of back-and-forth conversation with the audience between songs, with fans playfully interjecting compliments like "Your drummer goes so hard!" and "Your outfits are killer," proving that both opening acts certainly captured the attention of the crowd.
The first of the highly anticipated headliners, Grayscale, exploded onto the stage with “Just Right,” the opening track off their 2019 album Nella Vita. The Philadelphia-based band kept the energy high, with frontman Collin Patrick Walsh pouring his heart and soul into every lyric. His powerful vocals resonated throughout the venue as the band delivered a setlist packed with fan favorites off of Nella Vita and their 2021 album Umbra. Mid-set, fans were treated to a new song, “Let Go,” followed by the heartfelt ballad “Forever Yours,” a deep cut off their 2017 album, Adornment. They closed out their set with none other than their most recent single, “Not Afraid To Die.” Grayscale is a band that, for every ounce of effort they put into their studio recordings, they more than triple it for their live performances, and their set on the opening night of The Night Shift Tour was no exception.
Closing out the show was the indie rock powerhouse Smallpools. Coming off the release of their new EP Ghost Town Road (east) just a day before the show, Smallpools rode that high through their entire set, from the opening song “Night Shift” to the closing performance of their top hit “Dreaming.” Lead vocalist Sean Scanlon commanded the stage with his magnetic presence, effortlessly engaging the crowd and drawing them into the band's infectious energy. Telling snippets of stories, such as missing an ex’s family more than the ex, as they led into the slow-burn crescendo of “Mother,” and the reason behind the title of “Killer Whales,” made the sold-out show an intimate experience for all in attendance. From start to finish, Smallpools delivered a performance that was nothing short of exhilarating.
There’s no doubt that the first night of The Night Shift Tour had kicked off in spectacular fashion, more than proving itself to be a concert experience to remember. The tour continues across the US through the first week of May, so be sure to catch it when it comes to your city!
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