Philadelphia Is “Happier Now” With Movements

Emo heavyweights Movements released their newest album Happier Now via Fearless Records on September 4, three years after the release of their last full-length album. To celebrate, the band embarked on a massive North American headlining tour, which started on October 7 in Seattle, WA and will conclude on November 14 in Santa Ana, CA.

Nearly halfway through the tour, Movements stopped at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia on October 24, performing for a sold-out crowd. Movements put on a show the fans would never forget, truly making everyone “Happier Now.”

The first band to take the stage was California-based punk rock band Niis. Niis raised the roof with their unrelenting energy, kicking off the night on a high note. Vocalist Mimi SanDoe’s captivating stage presence and dynamic vocals had the crowd hooked, quickly getting the room moving.

The band recently released their newest EP Play Niis on October 23, only one day before the show in Philly, and played several new songs such as “Westside” and “Bad Aim.” As the set came to a close, it was clear that Niis made many new fans that night and successfully warmed up the crowd for what was to come.

NIIS: Website | Instagram

The second opener of the night was alternative rock band Midrift. Given the band’s young age, their ability to command a room was all the more impressive. The band independently released their debut album Silhouette on June 5 and already have nearly 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, so their upward rise shows no signs of slowing down. Midrift’s shoegazy, grunge-inspired indie rock creates soaring, atmospheric soundscapes that can easily captivate a crowd.

For their final song, the venue was lit up by phone flashlights waving in the air, which followed a drum solo that had the crowd cheering. By the end of the set, Midrift proved that they are a band that everyone should have on their radar.

MIDRIFT: Website | Instagram | YouTube

The final opener of the night was Pennsylvania’s own Balance and Composure. The band formed in Doylestown, PA, so Philadelphia was essentially their hometown show, and the fans made sure to show up for it. As soon as the band began to play, several crowdsurfers started moving through the venue, and this energy never died down for a moment. Balance and Composure is a staple of 2010s post-hardcore and emo, inspiring a generation of bands that came after them, including Movements.

Throughout the set, it seemed like nobody in the room was standing still, as fans kept moshing and crowdsurfing. Philadelphia made sure to give it their all for Balance and Composure’s hometown show, and the fans were fully energized for the upcoming headliner.

BALANCE AND COMPOSURE: Website | Instagram | X | YouTube

At around 10 p.m., the lights dimmed for the final time that night, building anticipation. Soon enough, Movements walked onto the stage as cheers burst throughout the venue. The band opened with the emotional “Back in My Ways” from Happier Now, which had nearly every fan in the room singing along. After the interlude “Spellbound,” Movements then went into the fast-paced “Ill at Ease,” and the fans immediately got off their feet. Nonstop crowdsurfers started coming through, sometimes even several at once, and this energy only escalated throughout the night.

As their fifth song of the night, Movements performed the fan-favorite single “Dissolve Me” from the new album, which had the entire room screaming along to the lyrics and moving.

Seeing them live, it is no wonder why Movements is one of the powerhouse emo bands of the 2020s. With vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics combined with catchy hooks and anthemic melodies, Movements can easily have fans go from moshing to emotionally singing along to the music. Throughout the set, the mosh pit kept getting bigger, and fans even started a circle pit. Meanwhile, fans were crowdsurfing in record numbers, with one surfer coming after another constantly.

Vocalist Patrick Miranda told the Philly fans that Philly is like a second home to the band. Besides enjoying the energy of the Philly crowds, the band also recorded Happier Now in the Philadelphia area and work closely with many people from the Philly area, making the show a significant night of the tour for them.

To close out the show, Patrick dedicated their final song to their close friend and merch person who recently passed away, mentioning that he was “a Philly guy through and through.” The band went into their breakthrough hit “Daylily,” and the crowd sang extra loud in honor of his friend’s memory. Fans kept moshing and surfing until the very last note of the song, creating a lasting memory for everyone there. Patrick mentioned earlier in the set that this current tour is the best tour the band has ever done, and Philadelphia gave them even more of a reason for that.