By: Taylor Fulkerson

Walk the Moon, a Cincinnati band gaining national popularity, kicked off their first headlining summer tour at the Lifestyles Community Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

The band played the majority of the songs from their 2012 debut album, “Walk the Moon,” as well as some new material. Their loyal fan base received the material well, singing and dancing along to the high-energy tunes.

A majority of the crowd donned face paint or body paint for the high-energy show, in tribute to the band’s neon-filled music video of “Anna Sun.”

The lighting was also very impressive. Two neon trees set the stage for the musicians, changing colors to the beat with superb timing and brightness.

The band voiced their appreciation of the crowd’s enthusiasm and joked to connect with the audience on a more personal level. “You don’t have to look cool,” lead singer Nicholas Petricca said. “We don’t either.”

A standout number was Walk the Moon’s first single, “Anna Sun.” The band further pleased fans, ending the concert with the closing track of their album, “I Can Lift a Car.”

The crowd appeared to be having a good time; however, a few audience members were seen being apprehended by security as they crowd-surfed towards the stage, especially during the closing songs of the first set and during the encore.Overall, Walk the Moon had a great start for their first headlining tour.

You can see Walk the Moon live this Friday at 7:00 p.m. for a free show at the University of Cincinnati.