Walk Off The Earth Runs Around The World

The talent that exudes from the stage at a Walk Off The Earth show brings joy to fans of all ages. The band stopped in Seattle last month at The Moore Theatre, with their fellow Canadians and friends, The Darenots, opening the show. This stop was the first of many WOTE shows featured on their current tour. This leg will take them on a few more US stops along with multiple shows in their home country of Canada.

One thing you must know, (just in case you have never been to one of their shows before – tsk, tsk), is that when they take to the stage, they create an energy from start to finish that’s integral to their exuberant music. Each band member is a multi-instrumentalist, and it’s not only the way they play these instruments from different places on stage, it’s how they switch from instrument to instrument that is just one of the highlights you’ll see at their shows. They rely on each other and their stage hands, the “WOTE Crew,” and their choreography is entertaining and masterfully done.

After the sudden death of one of their founding members, Mike “Beard Guy” Taylor (12/30/18), the band continued to play sold out shows all over the globe. Although they haven’t put out a full length LP in a few years, they do continue to make videos of them performing cover songs, (the way you’d expect them to, which is by no means done in a traditional fashion). They’ve also released a number of original singles in the past year including, “Fifth Avenue,” (one of Taylor’s last songs he performed on). This past May, they released “Mike’s Song” as a tribute to Taylor’s legacy. One could describe its lyrics as a kind of healing anthem for family, friends, and fans. While they perform it on tour, fans (at some shows) hold blue paper hearts (cut out by designated volunteers, WOTElings), up to the light of their phones streaming pops of blue throughout the venues. It’s magical. You can find a few videos for that song on their YouTube channel, including one they made to showcase how incredibly generous Taylor’s spirit lives on when it comes to helping kids find their own light through the gift of instruments, (you can watch it here). They also share a special moment in their set by taking time from some of their hit songs to ask the audience to sing along (and shout) the lyrics to Queen‘s Bohemian Rhapsody, (Taylor’s favorite song to play on stage with audience participation), as a big screen plays video of Taylor on and off stage. The love within the venue might simply take your breath away, and you may or may not find a dry eye in the house.

Love, confetti, smoke stacks, and a few gigantic balloons will also be in abundance at their shows. As will a fun-filled performance that WOTE fans will continue to flock to. I will continue to be one of them.