On September 26th, Italia Square in Tirana pulsed with electricity as the Check In Festival kicked off its fifth edition, and one of the brightest sparks of the night was none other than Rea Lemnusha. As one of the first DJs to take the stage for Electronic Night, Lemnusha set the tone for what would become an unforgettable evening of music, energy, and community.
Read MoreBy the time Weird Al’s slot rolled around, the field was already chanting his name. When he finally walked out, hair hanging, plaid shirt, looking like a tongue-in-cheek Kurt Cobain, he dove straight into “Smells Like Nirvana,” gargling water mid-verse and deadpanning, “I forgot this part,” then just standing watching us silently for a verse was hilarious. It was classic Weird Al: the joke inside the joke, but still musically tight.
Read MoreBlink-182 closed out Shaky Knees. In complete Blink-182 fashion it was chaotic, funny, and loud enough to rattle the fireworks overhead. The crowd was already packed shoulder-to-shoulder when Mark, Tom, and Travis hit the stage, tossing out their usual between-song banter before ripping into fan favorites. “I Miss You,” “What’s My Age Again?,” and “All the Small Things” turned the field into one massive singalong, voices rising in unison.
Read MoreLucy seems like such a genuine and caring person. Her performance at Shaky Knees warmed the crowd, enjoyed by thousands of fans who clearly came ready. She was so humble too; thanking everyone for showing up and talking about previous times she’s played in Atlanta. It was obvious she has a lot of loyal fans here, many of whom know every word of every song.
Read MoreThe Dev-heads were out in full force, a sea of red energy domes bobbing across the crowd as Devo took the stage. For a band whose first singles came out nearly half a century ago, they sounded sharp, tight, and ever weird. It was a pleasant mixing of nostalgia and true performance.
Read MoreCriticals walked out like a baseball team taking the field, Salt Shaker by DJ Nuwav spinning them in as if it were their walk-up song. The Nashville-based band might be young, but they came out swinging, guitars blazing and a grin across every face. Right from the first song, frontman Parker Forbes leaned into the mic and barked, “Shaky your knees—whatchu got?” and the crowd answered with a roar.
Read MoreWhat’s your go-to karaoke song? Mine is “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. I definitely don’t have the voice for it, but it’s fun and I love the song. The band stopped touring in 1994, over three years before I was born, yet their songs have stayed some of the most joyful, cathartic rock tracks out there. When I saw their name on the Shaky Knees lineup, I knew I couldn’t miss it, not knowing when they might perform again.
Read MoreShaky Knees’ Saturday started with a rush of new blood. Getting in early meant catching the up-and-comers before they explode, and one of those bands was Fat Dog, a cheeky young outfit from the UK making a noisy claim on American soil.
Read MoreWhat do crowd surfers, songs about piss, and toddlers moshing have in common? The only answer is Die Spitz. Following the release of their debut Something to Consume and a stint opening for Viagra Boys, the young all-female band from Austin has been steadily carving out their place in the rock scene. If this is your first time hearing their name, you can thank me later. If it’s not, then you already know they’re worth every bit of hype.
Read MoreBackseat Lovers have been steadily building their success, songs blowing up on TikTok and a reputation for their live shows. I’ve followed them for a while but hadn’t had the chance to see them live until this weekend. Seeing their name on the Shaky Knees bill was a thrill, and their set was well worth the wait.
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