Review: wave to earth at The Anthem on Oct. 2

There are two types of people at a wave to earth concert: those who are in love, and those who are about to be.

The lights turn on and suddenly the entire crowd experiences an awakening. Some fall in love with Daniel Kim’s smooth yet raw vocals, others with Dong Q’s alluring drumming, and a particularly vulnerable few with John Cha’s bass lines that seem to vibrate directly into their rib cages. Against a dreamy backdrop resembling a lived-in home, wave to earth takes the stage, and the crowd collectively forgets how to breathe. Hearing them live makes you wonder how you’ll ever listen to the recorded versions the same way again. Could a recording ever do wave to earth’s live sound any justice?

Then Dong Q drops a bomb. “I hope you enjoy what is the very end. Thank you. I love you. Goodbye.” And that’s how a good portion of the crowd finds out that this is wave to earth’s last tour for the foreseeable future.

Suddenly, the concert takes on a different meaning. As the intro to “love.” begins, the crowd knows this may be the last song they will hear them play in DC. Tissues make their way through the audience as fans wipe away tears, reluctant to let the night end. In the backdrop, Georgetown’s familiar silhouette comes into view as the band exits the stage. The moment feels fitting: a farewell unfolding just beyond campus, where the music’s themes of love and connection continue on in the communities waiting just beyond the venue. The last notes fade, but the feeling lingers long after the lights come back on.

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Kaitlyn Zheng is a freshman in the SFS majoring in Global Business. She’s been to 15 concerts/festivals and is going to 5 more this year!