On May 23, Saving Abel announced they were doing a pop-up show in Wichita, Kansas, and I knew instantly I had to go. Growing up, I would hear their music in the car, house, and on the TV. They were everywhere. So when they announced this surprise show, I knew I had to make this happen!

Once I knew I was going, I made sure my camera bag was ready and left my house. I was so pumped. I soundtracked my drive with some oldies like “Addicted,” “The Sex is Good,” and “New Tattoo,” but didn’t forget the new stuff like “Ready to Burn,” “Side Roads,” and “Dodged A Bullet.” As I got to the venue, I became nervous, wondering what the crowd was going to be like. I sat in my car for 30 minutes, hyping myself up, and watched cars pull into the parking lot. A lot of older people rejoiced and a few younger. So then, I assumed the crowd wouldn’t be as rowdy as I’m used to. I also started thinking about the opening band. Where are they from? What genre are they? What is their stage presence like?  I then looked at the time and headed up to the venue. 

Wabash & Lake is a band from Hutchinson, Kansas. They were by their merch booth, and I introduced myself to the lead singer, Krista Lundemo. She was so sweet and very kind. The rest of the band, I assume, was getting ready for the show.

Now, when they came out on stage, their presence was outstanding – with Krista as lead singer, Jay on Bass, Eliot on Lead Guitar, and Tom on Drums. They played their newer song, “Sweet Tooth,” and I’m obsessed with it! From the lyrics to the beat— hearing it live was so much better! They also played a cover of “Unholy” by Sam Smith, “Toxic,” “Room,” and a few more. Wabash & Lake definitely got the crowd ready for Saving Abel! 

Go Check them out here on Spotify. 

Saving Abel – Now, remember how I said I didn’t expect the crowd to be rowdy? Well, boy, I was totally wrong. All these people that came to see them were head-banging, dancing, singing along with every word. As Saving Abel hit the stage, the crowd went wild. They played the crowd’s favorites for sure, like “Addicted,” “Drowning,” and their new hit, “Dodged a Bullet.”

Now, I go to a lot of concerts and hear some of the same speeches, but when Jared talked about mental health, it hit a little harder than usual. You could truly feel his sincerity. You can really see how deeply this band cares about their fans and how thankful they are for them. By the end of his speech, I was in tears. As the show came to an end and Jared, Dave, Greg, Riley, and Eric left the stage, you could tell all the fans were sad, but I know this won’t be the last time we see Saving Abel in Wichita, KS. 

Now you want to see Saving Abel live? Well, lucky for you, they are going on tour with King Falcon and Dead Sugar. Get your tickets before it’s too late!

Listen to Keep Swinging now on Spotify.