As Waterparks’ Prowler Tour hits Leeds, we meet the band’s diehard fans to find out why the words of Awsten Knight strike such a chord, which lyrics stay in their heads, and how the fandom is stronger than ever…
While fans wait with bated breath for Waterparks to announce the long-anticipated new album, the Texan trio of Awsten Knight, Geoff Wigington and Otto Wood are making their way around the UK and Europe as part of The Prowler Tour.
Armed with a multi-coloured, 25-song setlist, Waterparks know how to give their legion of lifelong supporters their money's worth and then some. But who are the fans who will brave a chilly Monday night in Leeds to lose their minds to one of the most inventive, forward-thinking bands in rock right now? We joined the queue to find out…
How long have you been a fan of Waterparks?
“Oh god, that's a good question. I think I was 12 or something when I got into them – It was 2018 because it was just before [2019 album] FANDOM came out. So how many years is that? Too many!”
What is it you like about them?
“I'll be honest, I'm not even that fussed about their new music. I just think they're really funny and I like the way they interact with the bands and stuff. I think it's kind of like a comedic thing for me. I like a good tune, but the attitude of the band is very important because if I go see a band live and they're just kind of stood there, I'm like, 'No, no, no, no, no!' If they're not really interacting with the audience and stuff I just feel a bit like disappointed. I think Awsten's really, really good at blabbing on and talking about random shit, especially in Birmingham.”
What is your favourite era of the band?
“I quite like [2018 album] Entertainment. I wasn't really around for that as I was too little, but FANDOM was iconic to me. It's like the old nostalgic era because I was just understanding what a band was. I had a best friend who was a few years older than me who'd liked them since like 2016 or something. I thought they were the coolest person in the world because they'd been to a thousand Waterparks shows and played Nintendo Switch with them once outside a concert!”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“I think it's a lot to do with the band interaction. Sadly, they don't do so much now because I think they had a bad interaction at some point. But I think they have a lot of inside jokes with their fans. I can't think of one off the top of my head, but Awsten loves to talk about shagging people's mums and stuff.”
What’s your favourite lyric?
“I like this one I have on my phone case: 'Was I loved or was I right?' And I like that because people are big meanies sometimes.”
What other bands are you into?
“There's a band called Los Campesinos! that I quite like. I love a good political band because I'm a politics student at uni. Lyrics are really important to me, too. I like a good metaphor and I like it if they sound a bit pretentious. I also like a lot of acoustic stuff – I'm really into Sufjan Stevens right now and another guy called Kevin Atwater.”
What's your outfit today?
“I'll unzip my coat to show you my T-shirt. I like pink a lot! I have this Waterparks T-shirt that says 'Hot Girls Love Waterparks', because they do. I dyed my hair yesterday to match this shirt. It was supposed to be pink but came out red!”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
“I'd always seen them on my Twitter because a girl I was friends with kept meeting them, and then after that I started listening to their music and was like, 'Oh, I really like this band!' At the time I hadn't heard much different music and I thought they were really funny with a different personality to any other bands.”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“I feel like they've got one of the most loyal fandoms out there. Every year you come to a show and see the same people. That's so cool.”
What’s your favourite lyric?
“Well, my favourite song is Snow Globe, and my favourite lyric is, 'My tiny little world is in your hands.' I love that.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“At the moment I've been listening to a lot of Korn and Limp Bizkit – very nu-metal. I'm hoping to go to Download this year, but have no tickets booked yet.”
What's your outfit tonight?
“I also have a Hot Girls Love Waterparks shirt on – I bought it last week when I saw them earlier on their tour. Then ripped jeans and my Converse.”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
“I've been a fan for eight years! I saw they were touring with Patent Pending and at the time I was a huge fan of them, so that's how I found them. I just felt like they were so different to any other bands. Awsten's crazy. Geoff and Otto are so cool.”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“I think it's such a unique fandom – everyone here is so different but so similar at the same time. I think it's really cool to see everyone come together and see all the outfits and the different hair colours. It's just fun.”
What’s your favourite lyric?
“Any lyric from Rare – 'I think you're rare' is such a nice lyric. That song is my all-time favourite.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“My favourite band is Bowling For Soup! They were my first-ever gig. Such a rogue band, but I think they're so good live. They talk and interact so much with the crowd and they're really fun.”
What's your outfit tonight?
“I'm wearing some Waterparks merch for their tour. Underneath, I've got an Avril Lavigne jersey from Hot Topic. And I've got a skort on so I can crowdsurf. Then fishnets and my Vans!”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
“About two years – I got into them through my sister Ella [above]. I like the raw energy of them. I think they've got such a different sound to other people, so it really sets them apart.”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“I just think their fanbase is always dedicated to them and is really fun.”
What’s your favourite lyric?
“I'd have to say anything from CLOSER; I love that song. It's a very raw and intimate song and that sets it apart from others for me.”
What other bands are you listening to at the moment?
“I listen to a lot of hardcore and metalcore, like Killing Me Softly from Leeds, Hatebreed, Trapped Under Ice… all that stuff.”
What's your outfit today?
“Just some Nike TNs, some of jeans and then my Killing Me Softly shirt.”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
“Since probably about the age of 12. I found out about them through listening to Pierce The Veil and stuff on YouTube, and then immediately fell in love with them and have been listening to them since. I think the lyrics are what keeps me listening – they're so good and they're genius with the way they communicate. I think it's beautiful that they can discuss so many feelings in one song and people can resonate with that.”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“I think how varied the age ranges are – because to see so many young people here and older as well is so cool. I've got mad respect for them because their fandom is so versatile and not stuck to one age range. That's pretty sick.”
What’s your favourite lyric?
“Oh, fuck. I can give you a song… songs are easier. I'm gonna say Tantrum – I feel like it gives that angst. It was one of the first songs I found by them so it's long been one of my favourite songs.”
What other bands are you listening to at the moment?
“Pierce The Veil, Bad Omens, Sum 41 sometimes, Sleep Token…”
What's your outfit today?
“We've got the camo pants – green and Waterparks belong together, I think. This shirt too.”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
“Probably only for two years now. I'm at university with Ash [above] and he introduced me to them. Then as soon as I got into them I was like, 'Wow, this is unreal.' I think the lyrics are genius and that is undeniable. I love how every song has a different vibe. Like whatever mood you're feeling, you'll be able to find a song that reflects or replicates that, or just kinda helps you understand your emotions in a way. If you're in the gym, put on Parx. If you're doing ballet, put on Parx. If you're sobbing, put on Parx!”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“I agree with Ash, I like how the music touches all kinds of different people and of different ages. I think that's powerful. Their music doesn't have an age, it doesn't have a gender. It doesn't fit into a box.”
What other bands are you listening to at the moment?
“Sleep Token, Stand Atlantic, Pierce The Veil, Bad Omens, Bring Me The Horizon. And Don Broco is a big one!”
What's your outfit today?
“I've got cargos, a top from Primark and a lovely hoodie to keep me nice and warm!”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
“I wanna say since about 2019. I got into them via Telephone, whenever that came out. That was my first song and I loved it. My friend showed it to me and I was just like, 'Yo, this is too hype, show me the rest!'”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
“Everyone's really different but they all come together for the same thing. I mean, for example, I just met two new friends – Chloe and James – in the queue!”
What’s your favourite lyric?
“'Fuck Trump, fuck ICE!' Although my favourite song is Funeral Grey, that really got me back into them when they released that. It's quite special for me.”
What other bands are you listening to at the moment?
“A lot of twenty one pilots!”
What's your outfit today?
“A little grey, frilly top with dangly bits. A little denim skirt and denim leg warmers.”
How long have you been a Waterparks fan?
James: “It was when we first got together, so it just became a big thing for us as a couple, didn't it?”
Chloe: “About eight years! The vibes hooked us in, the vibes are always good. Awsten is a laugh. I met Geoff once, he was great!”
James: “It also makes Chloe happy to see them, so that's the main thing.”
Chloe: “Every time they pump out a new song it's like the same but different, and that just keeps me listening, keeps me coming back. I've got good memories with all their older songs so it's a nice bit of nostalgia.”
What is it that makes the Waterparks fandom special?
Chloe: “Everybody's just fun, yeah? Everybody just wants to have fun. I think it's the subjects of some of the songs, too. It brings in all kinds of attitudes from different communities together.”
What other bands are you listening to at the moment?
Chloe: “All Time Low, Good Charlotte.”
And what are your outfits today?
Chloe: “Docs, knee-high socks, a white T-shirt and leather jacket.”
James: “I'm a bloke. I have some combats on and a hoodie!”
