Rain or Shine
Saturday December, 8– We found ourselves contemplating a dangerous drive to Atlanta or staying at home in our cozy pajamas. Everyone told us that it wasn’t a good idea. We had been looking forward to this day for weeks, and we were determined to make the two hour drive to see Vista Kicks.
So, we packed in case of an emergency, and hit the road. We had our playlist of all their songs queued up and blasting. The rain was heavy, but bearable. Our drive was spent snacking, talking, singing, and laughing. We weren’t prepared for what was to come later on.
Receipt Set list
We arrived at the venue, 45 minutes before the doors opened. When they did, we went in and got our spot in the front. The show began at 9pm, and they had two talented openers; Everyday Dogs and Paul McDonald. They both played amazing sets, and made sure to interact with the big crowd.
Having a Good Time
Vista Kicks literally busted through the crowd (Sam, we forgive you) right at 10:45, and opened with Marceline. Not to go into a crazy amount of detail BUT, all we can say is that we made our presence very known at the show. We were booty shakin’ and singing like no one else, and created a strong connection with those groovy guys. Throughout the duration of the show, we made eye contact and sang to each other while hyping everyone else up. Their set was filled with head bangers, and they truly captivated the audience. Which is like nothing we had ever experienced at a show before.
Booty Shakin’… and Out of Breath
We were out of breath, smiling, and full of adrenaline when the show sadly came to an end. People began to crowd around to meet the band and take pictures with them. To ensure that we would get to talk to them, we headed over to their merch table and began a conversation with their talented friend Christine (@christinesolomonphotography). Walking over to where our coats had been placed before the show, we set our new shirts and vinyl down. Trevor (bassist), spotted us through the dispersing crowd and made his way over to us. He brought us into a hug and complimented us on our singing and dancing. Then Sam (guitarist/vocals), noticed us and talked us before taking a couple of pictures. They moved onto the last set of people waiting to get their pictures with them, when Derek (lead vocals/keys/guitar) came over to us.
“…Come to the Show”
Derek thanked us for performing for them, and gave us advice about getting home safely. He then kindly rounded up the rest of the members for some group pictures. Here are the results:
On social media, they had been asking for help with selling merch at some of their previous shows. So, we offered a helping hand at their next show in Raleigh, NC. They were eager about staying in touch with us to make it a reality. Before we left, Sam yelled out “See ya in Raleigh”, and we did just that.
On the Road Again
Monday December, 10– Keeping this secret between us, we packed our bags and made the four hour trip up to Raleigh. As we approached the venue, we messaged Sam to let him know we were 30 minutes away, and excited to help. We found a parking garage not too far away, and walked to the venue. Inside, they were setting up their set, and tuning their instruments. Sam greeted us with a hug, and thanked us for helping. He reintroduced us to Christine, and she gave us the run down of what the job would entail. The other members made their way down and chatted with us before the show and asked us what songs we wanted to hear.
Dancing on the Job
Vintage Pistol opened for them with a grungy set, and we tapped our feet along as we stood behind the merch table. The boys made their way onto the stage an hour later, and we couldn’t help but shake our asses and sing along from the back of the room. The rest of the crowd was in awe of us and in that moment we felt exhilarated. We made our way to the front for Marceline, Gotta Get Away, and Alice so that we could dance and sing with them. Again, we were booty shakin’ and singing with them and hyping the rest of the crowd up with their music. They really showed us the love during Alice, and we belted out the lyrics as they played.
Snowball Fights & Cookout
After the show, we ran back to the merch table and started preparing for the crowd. We got many compliments on our dancing and singing and how we made the show more enjoyable. We helped take money for shirts and vinyls alongside Christine. After the crowd had gone, we packed up their van, and hung out in the front with them. Hunger struck all of us, and we decided Cookout was our best bet at such a late hour.
They offered to give us a ride to our car in their van, but after taking a second look inside of it, Derek offered to walk us back to our car instead, because their van was a little messy. He made us feel safer as we walked back to our car and we will always be appreciative of that.
As we got to the parking lot, their van pulled up and they waited until we made it all the way back to our car before driving away. All of us made our way to Cookout, and unfortunately it was just a drive-thru. But the boys made the best out of the situation by having a snowball fight. We threw a couple ourselves, but our aims aren’t the best.
‘All Over Now’
After ordering our food, we stood around and waited with them. Chattering teeth and shivering bodies we laughed about our experiences from the night and discussed the difference between Cajun fries and regular fries.
We finally got our food and walked back over to where they had parked their van. Squeezing us into tight embraces, they thanked us for the millionth time that night. We replied, “No problem, anytime! We love you guys”. And we meant it.
This was one of the most memorable concerts that we have been to and the guys of Vista Kicks are such genuine and goofy guys. If any of you ever have the opportunity to see them, take that chance! They will make it worth your while!
Vista Kicks, thank you for this unforgettable experience. See ya soon!
“Come to the show, we’ll make you laugh, make you scream, make you get down on your knees and settle down”
Stay Groovy!
Hypnotic Bolt 