Two bands, alike in genre, took center stage: Never Ending Fall, with its energetic nature and crowd engagement; and the Hails, a chill counterpart with a more laid-back approach. Both left the crowd wanting more.

Never Ending Fall was the first of the two to perform. Playing together since fourth grade, the band had performed in venues a quarter of the size before the start of this tour. They were proud to be able to play around the country to packed venues such as these.

You could tell this band was having the time of their lives on stage. In the middle of the set, their lead singer, Jack Miller, parted the crowd to walk in the center. At the climax of the song, he asked everyone to crash together and mosh around. A person in a banana costume received a special shout-out and crowd chant once Jack returned to the stage. The rest of the show had that same energy, never faltering at any point during their set.

The Hails finished off the show with their signature sound. I saw them perform a little over a year ago at a smaller venue in San Francisco. Their live sound felt more refined compared to when I saw them previously. They started their set with a fan-favorite song, “Sippin on the Daylight.” The show itself was a wonderful mix of old classics and new hits. There was a reciprocal love felt by the fans and the members of the band – the fans were transfixed, and the Hails made sure to make every moment as memorable as the next.

View the full show through Jake Donaldson’s eyes through the gallery below! Check out the remaining show dates through this link.