Expecting concert-goers lined St. Mary’s St. on Thursday evening, waiting in anticipation. The classic letter board above the entry read “Local Natives – Time Will Wait For No One But I Will Wait For You Tour,” illuminated by the green light of the Aztec Theatre. Local fans filed in early, hoping to get spots close to the action. Suspended center stage glowed a reflective inflatable in the shape of the band’s initials.
This tour is the Local Natives’ accumulation of their twin albums, “Time Will Wait For No One” and “But I Will Wait For You.” Additionally, it is also a celebration of the band’s past, featuring many staple songs and throwbacks. For attentive fans, however, this tour is also a somber one. In April, one of the founding members, Kelcey Ayer, announced the tour would be his last with the band. His departure is a positive one, as he is off to focus his attention on his family and independent music. Many fans speculate this tour to be the last, even with the band’s insistence on a future full of new music.
In light of this news, many were ecstatic to hear the announcement of the new tour, starting in Fort Worth, Texas, with support from Krooked Kings. Hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, the growing group of college musicians is best known for their song “Lying Through Their Teeth.” The alt-indie band opened the evening at the Aztec, exciting the crowd with vibrant guitar solos and eccentric synth notes. Despite it being their first tour ever, Krooked Kings brought a unique and genuine energy to the evening, starting the set off with their hit song “Catacombs.” Their set consisted of a wide array of songs, from raw slower-tempo indie pieces to alternative, high-intensity tracks. The room filled with applause as they played their last song “Coming of Age.” However, to the band’s surprise, they were ahead of schedule and had the time to play an extra song, sending a wave of cheers through the supportive listeners. Krooked Kings closed their performance with an expression of gratitude towards Local Natives, leading into an intermission.
The atmosphere in the Aztec remained energized and surged as Local Natives finally rushed the stage. The musicians taking their places, Ayer and Taylor Rice, occupying center stage. Ayer was stationed behind a multi-keyboard setup, accompanied by a snare and cymbal. People pushed in from all sides of the floor, lining the walls to get closer. The night began with “April” from their most recent album, followed by “Just Before The Morning,” a hypnotizing melody from their 2023 LP. The crowds’ excitement continued to build with each song, flooding the venue with a wave of screams during guitar solos and flashing lights. The stage was washed in different colors, reflecting off the massive “LN” that adorned the air behind the band.
Circling back to their beginnings, the band performed “Wide Eyes.” The crowd practically sang the chorus for the band. Following this, their number one song “Dark Days” caused an eruption that brought the masses to a new volume. The stage was in a frenzy as the Local Natives played their supposed last song, “Sun Hands.” Guitars were dueling, the room clapped in time and Rice vaulted the barrier to join them. After an ending of beautiful chaos, Local Natives communicated their thanks and bowed off stage.
As many would have guessed, San Antonio was not done yet. Abandoning the normal chant of “encore,” the Aztec was filled with pure noise as every voice continued to escalate. Yet, even event staff were beginning to wonder as the band was not showing. The group reemerged to the audience’s relief, some with guitars already in hand to give the people what they wanted. One would not imagine the level of sound that was produced out of a seemingly average-sized crowd. Local Natives ended off the evening with three more of their top songs.
The band members joined each other side by side for a final bow, concluding a spectacular performance. Although it is the end of an era featuring Ayer, the band expressed their excitement to enter into something new. Those concerned about future tours were comforted by a parting statement from Rice, exclaiming “San Antonio, we will see you again soon.” Concertgoers flowed out of the venue, where conversations could be heard praising the stellar show and anticipating future tours. However, for the Local Natives, this tour is just beginning.
