Sad Summer Fest Houston 2022: Nothing but Pop-Punk Sounds and Good Vibes

Sad Summer Fest was in full swing at the White Oak Music Hall in Houston, Texas. It was a hot summer day, and everyone was more than happy that the outdoor festival was moved indoors. Merch tents and food trucks were set all over outside, as well as Sad Summer themed photo booths. Every band brought an intense energy to the stage, and we’re glad we were able to cover the event. Check out our individual performance reviews below:

Games We Play

Unfortunately, we arrived late and missed the performance by Magnolia Park – which WOMH bartenders said was a good time. Games We Play took the stage not long after, and everyone seemed excited for the singer. The trio just signed with Fueled by Ramen, where their debut album is set for release this September. They played singles that got popular on TikTok like “I Hope Your Happy” and “Deadbeat,” as well as few new tracks.

The Summer Set

This was definitely one of the best opening sets from Sad Summer Fest. The Summer Set is officially back on their comeback tour, with a new album set for release this September. They played golden oldies like “Chelsea” and “Boomerang,” along with newer tracks like “Street Lightning” and “Teenagers.” The crowd was singing out all the lyrics, and you could tell that lead singer Brian Logan Dales was more than happy.

Hot Mulligan

Hot Mulligan was another crowd favorite, as everyone was jumping and crowd-surfing to all of their songs. The band played their best songs like “I Fell In Love with Princess Peach” and “Drink Milk and Run,” in which they recently released a music video for.

State Champs

Once their stage banner fell across the back of the stage that said “State Champs… of What?”, everyone started cheering! All band members walked on stage to the song “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. They have been playing rotating sets since the start of Sad Summer Fest, so this time they started off with “Elevated.” They played fan favorites like “Criminal” and “Mine is Gold,” along with newer songs like “Act Like That” and “Everybody but You.”

Mayday Parade

If you had an emo phase, Mayday Parade was the band to get you in your feels. Mayday Parade blessed the stage with many hits like “Jaime All Over” and “Three Cheers for Five Years.” Almost everyone in the crowd was singing their lungs out, and it was definitely a set to remember.

Neck Deep

Neck Deep rocked the house as the second to final act of the night. Lead singer Ben Barlow was nothing more than energetic, as he jumped around all over the stage throughout the entire set. Even though he accidentally called Houston “Dallas” while ending their set with “In Bloom,” Neck Deep still put on a hell of a show.

Waterparks

To close off the night, Waterparks performed an outstanding hometown show. Lead singer Awsten Knight mentioned that his parents were in the crowd, noting the true full circle moment for the band. They opened their set with their hit single “Stupid for You,” and played all of their greatest hits (pun intended) like “Turbulent” and “Funeral Grey.”