Dexter and the Moonrocks: Sold out show in NC!
On Saturday, April 4th), Dexter and the Moonrocks played a sold out show at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh, NC. When I arrived at doors to the show, there was a line wrapping past the buildings and around into the neighboring stores’ parking lots. People in line were buzzing with excitement. As I stood chatting, the bassist for Cigarettes @ Sunset Wells Whitman walked down the line handing out stickers promoting the band. He was super chill and stopped to talk with fans. This interactive nature did not stop here. It was a recurring theme throughout the night with all the bands.
Jack Flowers of High June (Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Fisk)
The show started with High June. They are an alternative group founded out of East Carolina University. The band had a boundless energy. The lead singer Jack Flowers has such a unique, passionate sounding voice. Every song felt deeply personal. The musical genre of each song seemed to change throughout their set. The band is known for their genre defying sound and it worked so well. The change from a folk sounding song to a soft rock song kept the crowd hyped. It allowed for a unique exchange of energy from the band to the crowd. At one point during the set, the bassist Ryon Gerringer jumped into the crowd for an epic crowd surfing moment. This was later followed by Flowers when he walked into the crowd all while singing. It was an electrifying set.
Ryon Gerringer of High June (Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Fisk)
Next, it was time for Cigarettes @ Sunset to take the stage. They’ve played many shows before with Dexter and the Moonrocks and are a favorite opener. Cigarettes @ Sunset have a more distinctly folk rock vibe. The band formed out of Boone, NC and refer to their music style as Possum rock. This was clear in the tone of the band’s music and their instruments. Beyond the normal instruments needed for a rock band, they also have a violinist Sarah Vann. She was clearly a fan favorite. A “Sarah” chant spontaneously started when she was introduced on stage. The band played a lot of crowd favorites and maintained the high energy kickstarted by High June.
Garrett Dellinger of Cigarettes @ Sunset (Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Fisk)
Rounding out the night was the headliner: Dexter and the Moonrocks. The crowd lost it when they took the stage. Fox, the drummer, and Ryan Anderson, the guitarist, started out the set. Then, the other band members joined the stage. James Tuffs’ voice is captivating and raw; his vocals set the stage for the night. Fans were singing along to the songs about heartbreak, smoking, and sex. It was like the lyrics connected directly to each person there. The guitars and drums kept up the energy and paired the heavy lyrics with a mood you could dance and mosh to. This was apparent towards the middle of the set. Tuffs started a pit and from there the fans ran with the energy. At one point, Tuffs had to warn a few crowd members to not start a fight.
James Tuffs of Dexter and the Moonrocks (Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Fisk)
Regardless of the folk and country vibes of some of the songs, the crowd responded to the music in a similar way you’d see at a rock show. A lot of fans were crowd surfing to the stage and running back into the crowd full of excitement. Some crowd surfing fans had beer buckets on their heads and when they’d enter back into the crowd, fans would tap on their buckets in celebration.
The whole concert felt like a backyard party with friends. Everyone seemed to know each other and they were all connected by their love of Dexter and the Moonrocks. It was clear that the band’s fanbase is growing though as quite a few people were even in the parking lot next to the venue listening to the set.
After the show, Fox and his dad gave out gatorade and water to fans who needed it. It was very obvious that Dexter and the Moonrocks care about their fans. They stayed by the barricade to sign merch and take pictures with fans for hours after the show. This continued all while the band was trying to eat pizza and regroup.
If you’ve never been to a Dexter and the Moonrocks concert, you need to change that. It is an incredible experience where there is no judgement and where anyone can feel seen. The energy is incredible and the band gives their all. You may cry and laugh in the same concert, but that’s what you’re supposed to do. This band is genuine in a day and age when that is hard to find.
