Waterparks Bring Electrifying Performance to San Francisco

Writing and photos by Mary Perez

Graphic by Rebekah Witt

2025 was a big year for Waterparks. Formed in Houston, the pop-rock trio, comprised of vocalist Awsten Knight, guitarist Geoff Wigington, and drummer Otto Wood, has been making major waves this year, from signing a deal with BMG, headlining shows across the United States, playing Reading & Leeds, releasing new music, and even teasing a new record for the upcoming year. They recently wrapped up their US headline run of The PROWLER Tour, including a date at San Francisco’s iconic Fillmore venue.

Perfect for fans of Stand Atlantic’s grittiness and Daisy Grenade’s candid lyricism, Winona Fighter brought the heat early on, opening the show with a bang. Playing songs off their stellar debut record, My Apologies to the Chef, the band’s ferocity and undeniably catchy songs had the crowd hooked, as frontwoman Coco Kinnon jumped and kicked her way through the band’s punchy singles. Even pulling out (and absolutely crushing) a cover of The Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” the Nashville band likely walked away with quite a few new fans.

Foxy Shazam dazzled The Fillmore next, showcasing their glam rock style. The exciting set featured “Magic” off their latest record, Box of Magic, and their performance was magical indeed. From playing the keyboard atop ecstatic fans to doing tricks across the stage, the band kept the night alive with their biggest hits, including “Dreamer” and “Killin’ It.” Definitely an act you won’t want to miss live.

To finish off the evening, fans anxiously awaited the self-appointed “God’s favorite boyband.” Many had been in the area since that morning, as many fans had lined up extra early to nab a great spot to see the band. Armed with friendship bracelets and wearing their favorite Waterparks merchandise, fans bonded with one another throughout the night, chatting about their favorite Parx-related memories and discussing the band’s upcoming shows. To ensure that all of their fans had adequate time to meet them, Waterparks even set aside 3 hours for their VIP experience before each show. That’s one thing that’s stayed consistent with them over the years: the dedication of their fans and the reciprocated love from the guys themselves. 

In true Waterparks fashion, the band had a few surprises up their sleeve for the night. As the guys walked out, fans screamed as they caught a glimpse of the very festive Santa getups the trio were donning, complete with matching beards. Noting that they didn’t have a Halloween show, the band decided to dress up for the SF show as a way to both wear costumes and get in the holiday spirit. Not missing a beat, they launched into “Blonde” and “SNEAKING OUT OF HEAVEN,” immediately reviving the crowd as fans excitedly cheered along to the band’s massive discography. Playing four distinct sections (Happiness, Sadness, Anticipation, and Anger), the Houstonians wove their way through their large (and still growing!) discography, ranging from their latest releases to singles off their EPs to even a few unreleased tracks. Throughout the evening, Knight would ask their tour manager, Lucas Hand, to zoom in on different fans in the crowd to pick between songs for the band to play. No easy feat, but the fans chose wisely, selecting “Peach (Lobotomy)” and “Gloom Boys” over “Telephone” and “Not Warriors.” 

Midway through the show, Knight took to the stage with just an acoustic guitar to play a few fan-favorites. San Francisco got a special treat with the live debut of “Candy,” a Japanese bonus track off their debut LP, Double Dare. Additionally, Knight (begrudgingly) pulled out “Easter Egg” from their 2014 EP, Black Light. A longstanding joke with the fans, Knight has always shared his disdain for the song, despite strong fan support for the older track, but the band has not played the song live since their 2017 tour. He also played snippets of “Crave,” “Numb,” and “You'd Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out to Get You).” It’s always special getting to attend a Waterparks show because you may end up hearing some of your favorite songs, even if they weren’t originally on the setlist (or even released in your country). The final section of their set showcased some of their high-energy and more aggressive tracks, as fans enthusiastically screamed along to tracks like “TANTRUM” and “REAL SUPER DARK.” Crowdsurfing and moshing ensued, as fans made their way into the air and fingerpointed along to the song. The encore was “LIKE IT” off their 2021 record, Greatest Hits, a lively track that called for the crowd to utilize the last of their energy to send off the band the right way.

As a fan of Waterparks since 2016, each tour gets bigger and better. It’s no surprise that they have such loyal and passionate fans; the band’s dedication to their craft and the care they put into making every show special truly sets them apart from so many of today’s artists. Every show is full of fun and excitement, and fans always walk away with so many great memories. Whether it be through discovering a new favorite artist from the various openers or hearing their longtime favorite song for the first time, every Waterparks concert is one to remember. Here’s to another great year for the band and another big year to come!