As the lights in the packed ballroom of Warehouse Live dimmed, it was as if every person in attendance buzzed with pure energy. When the opening of One Night with The Valet began to play, it was like a spell was cast on all of us. The vibrant colors of the stage lighting, the angelic voice of Alaina Moore, and the lush sounds of Tennis had captured all of us.
Tennis graced Houston with their iconic indie pop sound on Friday, May 5th for the penultimate stop on their Pollen Tour. The power duo of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley along with their band brought an evening of dancing, singing, and wonderfully wholesome vibes to the Bayou City.
The connection between the band and their fans was palpable, adding an extra layer of intimacy to the already intimate evening. Moore acknowledged the overwhelming good vibes that permeated the venue, remarking that “the vibes are immaculate”. It was heartwarming to witness her genuine appreciation for the enthusiastic energy radiating from the audience, and to watch the crowd respond with an even greater showing of love and excitement as they sang along to each song played.
The setlist was a masterful curation, striking a perfect balance between the band’s beloved classics and the infectious, groovy tracks from their latest album, Pollen. The seamless fusion resulted in a shimmering journey through their entire discography that had the crowd eagerly anticipating each and every song. Concert staples like “My Emotions Are Blinding”, “Ladies Don’t Play Guitar”, “Matrimony”, and “Needle And A Knife” had the completely entranced crowd singing along with Moore. Voices gave way to a sea of grooving bodies as the warm dancy rhythms of Pollen were played. “Forbidden Doors”, “Paper”, “Let’s Make A Mistake Tonight”, and “Pollen” made the crowd in attendance rock, roll, and bust a groove together as Moore’s rose-tinted vocals met the funky rhythm and buzzing synths of her accompanists.
The chemistry and magnetic attraction between Moore and Riley was undeniable on stage. As the couple played the songs inspired by the experiences and emotions of love and life together, the looks each one sent the other was of total admiration, respect, and flirtation. Whether it was Moore’s commanding presence at her piano or Riley’s iconic hair-swaying guitar solos, the two were in constant expression of love for one another.
It was an evening filled with lovers embracing, all gathered to swoon over one another as well as experience the powerful bond shared by the duo of Moore and Riley. When it finally came time for the house lights to come up and the spellbound crowd to leave the only words left in this reviewer’s head were those sang during the encore, “I’m holding you so long/I will haunt you when I’m gone.” Indeed the environment created by Tennis will be one long felt and welcomed back to Houston with open arms.
All Photos by Karolina Cantu
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