After about seven years of performing as a band, Mover Shaker announced in January they would be taking a hiatus. The announcement sparked a flow of bittersweet appreciation from both new and long-time fans. This outpour of love was a sight to see at their farewell show at The Loving Touch in Ferndale, Michigan which also featured performances by Greet Death, niiice. and Ally Evenson.

Ally Evenson started off the night with a few of her dreamy rock songs which got the crowd moving. The crowd reaction was slow but positive as a room of still bodies turned to a sea of swaying hips and nodding heads. Her performance got personal as she introduced her most popular song “Bite My Tongue” by alluding to the traumatic experience that inspired it. She said the song is about a man who took advantage of a 19-year-old girl. Her vulnerability added to the performance of the song, not only clarifying the meaning of the lyrics, but highlighting the emotions that appeared on her face as she sang them: anger, passion, sadness, triumph.

Evenson also included a cover of “Alison” by Slowdive which excited much of the crowd. She invited the audience to sing along and many people joined in. The soft, melancholic nature of the song worked perfectly with Evenson’s voice and the result was beautiful.

The next performance was by niiice., a pop-punk band with a lot of energy. These guys really got the crowd moving. They are credited with the first crowd surf of the night after guitarist and vocalist Roddie Gadeberg took a stage dive right into my row. They are also credited with the first mosh pit of the night and therefore, the first minor injuries. One of which was the kick in the ear I received from Gadeberg’s stage dive, which got me really pumped up for the rest of the show. The rest of the audience shared my sentiment. After all, a little roughing up in the pit is what fans were looking for. And lucky for us, niiice. delivered. By the time they left the stage everyone was hollering in pure punk-kid bliss.

Third up was Greet Death, a rock band from Flint, Michigan. Right away, they set up their own ambiance by bringing out natural-looking lighting and turning off the stage lights. This allowed for a mood switch that contrasted the last set. The audience knew it was time for a pause in aggressive moshing. That could come later with the headliner. Now it was time for the solemn head nods that come with “Strange Days.” 

Greet Death was popular among the audience which regularly shouted out words of admiration in response to the drunken banter of guitarist Logan Gaval. Gaval took charge in introducing the songs while also admitting he was too drunk to play some of them. Regardless of his claims, he played beautifully. His comments aided in the performance by making everyone laugh and giving fans a chance to interact with the band.

There were a few complaints about how half of Greet Death’s set was new songs. Wanting to sing along to all your old favorites is understandable. However, the band made it clear through banter between songs that they did not care whether or not the audience wanted to hear their new stuff. While even I would’ve liked to hear some of my old favorites, I enjoyed the new songs and respect their decision to play what they wanted. It was bold of them to know their song choices might be unpopular and to stick with it anyways.

After what seemed like a fast sound check, it was finally time for fans to show their love to Mover Shaker one last time. 

As expected, the crowd was the most wild during Mover Shaker’s farewell performance. The fans gave it their all when it came to paying tribute to the band’s seven years with constant crowd surfing and a mosh pit that swallowed me whole. The camaraderie in the crowd was overwhelming in the best way as everyone screamed the lyrics of their favorite songs together. This energy was especially present during their performance of the popular song “Something You’d Say.”

Guitarist and vocalist Jack Parsons said they had been seeing some members of the crowd at shows for years. You could tell this was true based on the crowd’s energy. Some of them even knew the band members personally, calling them out by name.

The sentiment of nostalgia among both the crowd and the band was apparent throughout the night. Parsons repeatedly thanked the fans for supporting the band throughout their career. They gave an emotional speech on the isolation many in the LGBTQ+ community face while dedicating the band’s music to anyone who has ever felt alienated or alone. Parsons and much of the crowd became visibly emotional. The speech was just the personal touch needed at a farewell show and a reflection of the band’s sincere appreciation for their fans.