In a State of Sonder, The Wrecks Invade
- Sabrina Amoriello
- May 19
- 4 min read
The Wrecks stampeded into the industrial architecture of Brooklyn Steel this past Wednesday as part of their “The Inside Outside Tour.” Easily their largest New York City show to date, Brooklyn showed up and showed out for the entirety of the show, leaving every bit of adrenaline in them clinging to the steel walls and bouncing off the concrete floors by the end of the night.
I first heard of The Wrecks in July 2017, during their time as an opening act for All Time Low’s “Young Renegades Tour.” The band came on stage, a little nervous, somewhat skittish and played the only three songs they had released at the time: “Turn It Up,” “I Don’t Like You,” and “Favorite Liar.” My initial thought was that they fit the touring bill well and, even back then, the crowd just seemed to instantly connect with their presence. And how could you not? The band members step on stage as if it’s always a garage show, the sense of communion and connection is palpable, the banter feels like inside jokes with old friends; they’re not afraid to have fun with the audience, or even in the audience.
Eight years later, The Wrecks aren’t opening for a sold-out show, they’re headlining it. Alongside support from Quarters of Change and Benjamin Carter, a rainy Wednesday night in Brooklyn turned into a reunion as the band nears the final dates of their “The Inside Outside Tour” across North America.
Benjamin Carter primed the audience with a sound that refuses to be categorized. His music is punctuated by groovy, buoyant basslines, steady, mystical drum beats, and transcending, airy guitar riffs. It’s his stark lyricism that truly entices. As an advocate for mental health awareness, Carter’s music often speaks on heavy themes such as addiction, attachment, and mental illness. Carter kicked things off with “*DAYDREAMING,” his smooth delivery and laid back persona had the crowd letting go of all their inhibitions by the second verse. He shifted through a few more tracks, teasing Brooklyn with an unreleased single before closing things off with “Sticks n’ Stones,” which I think got Brooklyn officially “fallin’ head over heels” for Carter.
As I walked around after photographing the first few minutes of the set, I ended up next to a third-grade teacher who had driven all the way in from Albany, through the rain, to catch the show and meet the band the day prior at their signing. She told me that the band encouraged her to crowd surf at the meet and greet, so I told her to find me after the first three songs and I would hold her belongings.
Next to take the stage was a New York City-exclusive opener Cece Coakley, who I had personally never heard of before. Her music was mellow, melancholy, yet enchanting, and her presence stood out. She commanded the audience with a persona she dubbed as “just a sad girl from Tennessee,” yet there was something serene about her and an acoustic guitar being the spotlight. She sang of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery with strong, sweet vocals echoed through crisp instrumentals. Her set hypnotized rather than invigorated, but it left the crowd in reverence.
After two somewhat reflective sets, the audience was prepared to release all their pent-up emotions for the final show of the night, and The Wrecks came out thundering. “Sonder” welcomed fans to The Wrecks' “The Inside Outside Tour,” and Brooklyn wasted no time letting loose. For six songs straight, it was a non-stop dance party, and when the band stopped for water or tuning in between, the audience kept the show alive with commentary and jokes.
The band stopped for air about halfway through the set during “Where Are You Now,” which featured vocalist Nick Anderson on his acoustic guitar with minimal backing from the band. He sifted through another acoustic track, a second New York City surprise, aptly titled “I Hope It’s Cold In New York.” Anderson admitted he had played the song on another date of the tour already, but it nonetheless felt like a soundtrack to the evening with the cold, spring rain pouring down outside the venue. “Normal” closed out the acoustic portion of the set, with the band gradually joining Anderson back on stage. It was a moment where the band’s growth was on full display, their musicianship has become so much more polished,and their stage persona more established since that opening performance in 2017.
The night was full of choral sing-alongs that made the performance feel like therapy, a release, instead of a live concert. Tracks such as “Always, Everytime,” “Fvck Somebody,” “Infinitely Ordinary,” and “Freaking Out” had the venue erupting, not a single body stood still. And when “Favorite Liar” capped off the night, my friend from earlier in the evening found me with her bag and swam through arms, crowd-surfing for the first time ever with an ear-to-ear smile across her face. Nick Anderson split the crowd for the last verse, joining the fans for one last dance party during the final chorus.
The Wrecks gave their all to Brooklyn this past Wednesday, and East Williamsburg projected it back tenfold. The evening ended on a high note, and the crowd trickled out of the venue rocking the band’s tour merch as a tangible memory of a milestone moment in The Wrecks’ career.
