Cincinnati-born band, Walk The Moon, quickly rose to fame following the December release of their album Talking Is Hard. The album quickly topped the charts around the world, incorporating their signature pop-rock sound found in previous LPs (long-players), I Want! I Want! And Walk The Moon.

Nick Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman, and Eli Maiman came together in 2010 to form Walk The Moon, and while many people may not be familiar with their earlier music, most indie music fans came to know the band after the 2011 release of their single, “Anna Sun.”  Following its release, “Anna Sun” was named Song of the Summer by MTV and Seventeen Magazine.

Shut Up And Dance, the lead single off of the new album, has spent more than forty weeks on the Billboard Top 100 Chart, peaking at number four. Based on a date Petricca, lead singer, had with his girlfriend, the song showcases a pop tune with infectious lyrics about letting go, having fun, and just simply ‘dancing’. Selling more than 2 million copies domestically, it is evident that the single has won over the hearts and radios of many new fans. “I’m surprised the song has done as well as it has, but I think it’s a good representation of the rest of their music,” said senior Payton Hanna.

It’s refreshing to see an “indie pop-rock” band have such success in an industry where bubblegum pop has dominated for the past ten-plus years. While Talking Is Hard does have a pop influence, it fuses together such a wide array of sounds and genres, and creates a sound that is completely unique, something that is hard to come across in today’s industry. A guitar-driven sound, combined with the bands signature “synth-pop” sound, leads many of the songs on the album to sound as if they were produced in the 70’s or 80’s.

Walk The Moon’s sound is incredible, but the message in their music may be even greater. The second single off of their latest album, Different Colors, is widely popular for its message behind equality and the fight against discrimination. In an interview discussing the album, Petricca said that “different colors” represented both race and the pride flag colors for the LGBTQ community. Along with the eye-opening message in the second single, almost every song on the new album has an uplifting message for fans, even if it’s just to Shut Up and Dance.

The live shows are what really set Walk The Moon apart from other bands. Within the span of a year they’ve gone from playing small 500-capacity rooms, to headlining music festivals with audiences of over 100,000 people.

The crowds at the shows are electric, even before the show itself starts. Hours before doors even open fans are lined down the street with painted face; a tradition that fans and the band have carried with them throughout their years of touring. During the show the crowd comes alive, and by the end of the night everyone is on their feet dancing, singing, jumping on command, and even lifting cars (from song I Can Lift a Car). “The concerts are great, other than the music they have a lot of cool effects like the lighting, and they always give a speech before one of the songs (I Can Lift A Car), which is nice to hear every time,” said Hanna, who has seen them perform at Ottobar, in Baltimore, and the 9:30 Club in D.C.

Petricca is a captivating front man, keeping the crowd involved while never missing a note. The same can be said for the other members of the band as they continuously interact with the fans throughout the show while maintaining an incredible sound.

The energy seen throughout Walk The Moon’s live shows is incomparable; it brings the music to a whole new level and gives fans an entirely new perspective on the sound and meaning behind it all.

Walk The Moon’s rise in popularity with single, Shut Up And Dance, is not unmerited. Their consistency in sound, message, and performance has been obscure from the popular music scene for so long, but this year has introduced them to a whole new audience.