iDKHOW BUT THEY FOUND ME ROCKS SOLD OUT GLOOMTOWN TOUR DATE IN SF
PHOTOS: ANDY MCGINNIS
I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (stylized as “iDKHOW“) is an indie band brainchild of legacy star Dallon Weekes, from Salt Lake City. iDKHOW has charmed fans of Weekes’ past projects and a legion of newcomers who enjoy the vibes IDKHow has to offer. The band has been performing nationwide at sold-out venues to promote their new full-length LP ‘GLOOM DIVISION.’ I was invited to the show on behalf of Get Some Magazine by Andy McGinnis and Dallon Weekes on April 24, 2024, at August Hall in San Francisco, CA. It is not often that a reviewer has the opportunity to get the VIP experience, complete with all the bells and whistles—but I investigated the scene, deciding whether or not an upgraded ticket for the Gloomtown Tour was worth the spend. Essentially, I became an undercover spy, incognito as I received the scoop.
After establishing my disguise (a baseball cap and very flashy denim jacket), I arrived for VIP check-in at around 3:30 since they were set to let us in for the perks at around 4. The IDKHow team has a knack for punctuality, as we were greeted by our VIP host promptly, just as expected. Surprisingly, it felt as though no time passed at all as I was waiting in line. The crowd around me was welcoming, a feature I would notice throughout the evening. Fans of this band are humble, kind, and hilariously funny; it is no secret why they would gravitate towards a figurehead like Weekes, who I have come to learn shares these qualities. Admittedly, I had mostly known Weekes for past projects like The Brobecks, a high school favorite of mine. However, every second of my experience at the August Hall concert made me a fan of Dallon the person and the performer.
The VIPs all gathered around the stage for a Q&A session with the Utah-based singer-songwriter. This portion of the event was incredibly well organized since each question had been pre-selected with every attendee filling out a form when they bought their upgraded ticket. There was so much unique insight being shared throughout the session, and attendees got to look behind the velveteen curtains, though the Wizard in our scenario was far from disappointing. Instead, audiences solidified what they already knew…they were in the presence of a prolific, established, and knowledgable musician. Truthfully, some of the information Weekes provided is taught in music production classes, so Q&A attendees got an incredible deal.
Finally, Weekes mentioned that he earnestly did not realize that meet & greets were paid events. To counteract the uneasiness of making someone pay to take a photo with you, he created a mannequin version of himself (dubbed the “Dallequinn”), and let me tell you, that thing is nightmare fuel. Think of the scariest wax figure you’ve seen at Madame Tussauds, and the Dallequinn is about 10000 times worse than that. Of course, I took a photo with it.
Again, everything was organized exceptionally well, with the IDKHow team’s attention to punctuality standing out. Everyone in the VIP section essentially got the same spots as when we went in for VIP perks, so if securing a barrier is important to you, go for the upgrade! The show that IDKHow puts on renders each seat in the venue a good spot, but admittedly it was a bit more magical being right there, as Weekes stared into my soul, perceiving me a bit too much.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see Benches live a few times before they were Gloomtown Tour openers. The San Diego-based band features a tried-and-true indie sound that would grace the ears of fans of The Strokes. This was the biggest venue I’ve seen Benches perform in, and they deserve the upgrade. Their vast discography is representative of a group that is dedicated to their craft. You can tell they aren’t in the game solely for the expansion; still, their inherent skill level will ensure expansion, perhaps at a rate beyond what they are anticipating, especially after their IDKHow opening slots at sold-out venues across the country. Audience members who either did their homework before the concert or were already familiar with Benches were singing along enthusiastically to most of the songs, save for a new, currently unreleased song called “Song 5.” Despite technical difficulties, drummer Ethan Bowers and bassist Charlie Baird provided a strong rhythm section throughout the short set. At the same time, lead guitarist Evan Ojeda kept the good vibes going with classic indie guitar tones guiding the way. Vocalist Anson Kelley uncharacteristically experimented with some stage banter, which he should try out more often. His attempt at gatekeeping his name received many a giggle from the girls surrounding me. Benches is one of those moments where I know I will eventually get to say, “I knew them when…”
This Gloomtown Tour date felt like catching a shiny Pokemon in tall grass for several reasons, namely because it was a short, two-band bill. There were only about 45 minutes in the interim between Benches and the headliner, giving me just enough time to get to know the community. Friendly chatter surrounded the room as anticipation grew for the headlining set. Again, I cannot emphasize enough how kind and warm the vibes felt in that room. I have attended many concerts as both a reviewer and regular attendee, but this was one of the rare times I felt as though people were committed to making connections. This makes sense, since music as a connecting point between people is among Weekes’ core values, as he later explained on stage.
Weekes is an incredible frontman; he offers a unique charisma and charm that I have only seen in a few artists of the same genre. I have seen Weekes perform before, in someone else’s band. Now, as he takes the lead, he is confident and his aura is contagious. It is visible that Weekes makes an effort to connect with every single person in the room, even the audience viewing the show from a tall balcony. As a bassist, his IDKHow songs have a very natural groove to them, making them extremely danceable even if you are not familiar with the band’s relatively new discography. This group seemingly allows Weekes to be his truest self, which, in turn, has given his audience the power to do the same, thus establishing an unstoppable community.
In fact, the trust that Weekes has in his community is admirable. About halfway through the set, he parted the crowd like the Red Sea, walking in the middle aisle down the floor as if he was not a major rockstar. This dad from Utah took the time to look everybody within reach in the eye, giving each attendee something to write home about once the show was done. In the meantime, his vocals did not miss; though I am familiar with his early work, I did not realize how expansive Weekes’ range truly was as a lead vocalist. He pulled out a few old numbers from The Brobecks, which made my inner teen’s heart soar with joy and nostalgia.
A bit later, Weekes received a lesbian pride flag from some fans in the front row. Part of his community’s welcoming energy starts with him, so, naturally, he pranced around with it for a good few minutes. There were several young lesbians around me, and seeing their reaction to Weekes’ allyship, as an ally myself, made me a bit misty-eyed. It is truly incredible to have someone like Weekes, with such strong star power, who is dedicated to diversity as he expresses it within his art.
The setlist was fantastically curated; it touched a lot of bases, even though the tour was geared toward promoting the new record. The band did play a lot from the new record (with some incredible live elements like guitar leads, synth tracks, and new drum fills) being added to create a different audience experience. Dallon Weekes and his project IDKHow are one to watch. His people-first approach to music, complete with a no-BS VIP package that is well worth every cent, and his charismatic, energetic live set should be a priority for concertgoers. Get your tickets fast if another tour is announced, too, because they sell out for a reason!
