iDK How

Phantom Light Media
4 days ago
2 min read

I don't know how but they found me at the I Don't Know How But They Found Me show, but I don't know how– oh jeez.

We're going to format this review a little differently this time. Instead of focusing on how face-melting, crowd-pleasing, or overall mindblowing a show was, let's talk about something else– youth. See, your writer came of age during a very specific time in pop emo history in a way that reveals that the writer might be old enough to remember surviving on Monster drinks and hot dogs during multiple 10+ hour stints at Warped Tour. But what does a lack of adequate hydration and SPF paired with not having a driver's permit mean for the IDKHOW show that came to Boise on June 26th?

Led by Dallon Weekes, the former Brobecks frontman who later did a stint as the bassist for the now defunct Panic! At the Disco, IDKHOW is a modern marvel that mixes all of that pop emo the writer cut her teeth on with modern alt rock and does it seamlessly. But the secret to IDKHOW is the way the band can still make you feel young.

Surrounded by starry eyed teenage girls at the Knitting Factory is a scenario your writer is well aware of, as a former starry eyed teenage girl. But those stars have been replaced with prescription glasses and those teen years have been replaced with back pain and a need for a multivitamin. Still, when Dallon Weekes swings a microphone, somersaults in a way reminiscent of Willy Wonka greeting you to his factory, and sings cool alt pop songs about sex and rebellion, it's really easy to forget that you've replaced homework with housework and a curfew for a shift change.

But also nothing will age you more rapidly than overhearing teenage girls gush endlessly about Ryan Ross. I don't know how but they found me really feeling ancient.