The Opener That Stole the Show
The opener, Cults, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire concert. I’ve always mainly known them for their song “Go Outside” and hearing it live was amazing. But the best part was discovering new music in real time. They performed a song called “Onions,” which I liked so much that I tried to Shazam it mid concert just to make sure I could add it to my library later.
Around this time — early October 2024 — social media was buzzing with the whole Diddy conversation, and J. Cole’s song “She Knows” was trending on TikTok for it. What’s funny is that the background of that track actually samples Cults’ song “Bad Things.” When Cults performed it live, the lead singer made a little joke about how the song was being used online, and the whole crowd laughed. It was a really funny moment. By the end of their set, I realized I knew way more of their songs than I thought, and their energy and sound made me appreciate them even more.
Vampire Weekend Takes the Stage
As a huge fan of indie and alternative music, this show was definitely one I was looking forward to as Live Oak Pavilion usually has more country artists. Vampire Weekend has always had that beachy, laid-back vibe to their music, so hearing them live in Wilmington, a coastal town full of beach people, felt right.
The background visuals and animations during their set were surprisingly detailed for an outdoor pavilion show, adding a cool, almost cinematic layer to their performance. The vocals and guitar work were just as crisp and upbeat as on their albums, and hearing songs like “A-Punk” and “Oxford Comma” live gave the whole night a feel-good energy.
A Perfect Fall Night
It was a little chilly out, October in Wilmington always has that coastal breeze, but the crowd’s energy and the music made it feel warm. From Cults’ unexpectedly perfect opening set to Vampire Weekend’s performance, the show was a good one.
