After first playing Beat Kitchen back in 2016—a 300-cap room packed wall-to-wall with diehards and raw energy—Movements returned to Chicago, this time for the final leg of the RUCKUS! World Tour at the Aragon Ballroom, a sold-out, 4,500-cap venue that felt just as electric, and just as loud.

The night began with a lineup of openers that gradually amped up the energy, setting the perfect tone for what was to come. Downward kicked things off with a raw intensity that immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention, followed by Scowl, and let me tell you, Kat Moss is a force of nature. By the time Citizen finished their set, the crowd was electric—eager for Movements to take the stage and carry that energy into something unforgettable.

The room was packed, the air thick with anticipation waiting for Movements to finally take the stage, and when they did, they wasted no time—opening with “Afraid to Die” was like lighting a fuse. People didn’t hesitate to start crowd surfing, bodies already flying overhead as the band tore into “Lead Pipe” and “Killing Time.”

But even with the intensity of the set, the band knew it wasn’t just about the chaos—it was about everything that had brought them here. “This is the best show of the tour,” vocalist Patrick Miranda said. And sure, Patrick might say every show is the best of the tour, but when he said it here, it felt like it—especially considering how much Chicago’s crowds know how to bring it. There’s just something about this city that makes you wanna give everything you’ve got.

“I can’t believe how many of you there are tonight,” Patrick said, looking out over the packed floor and the balconies filled with fans. “This has been the best tour we’ve ever done, and we’re so grateful for each and every one of you being part of it.”

But the night wasn’t just about fast-paced chaos and high-energy moments. They slowed it down with “Tightrope,” a song so emotionally charged, it gave me chills all over again—hearing it live for the first time in 2023. The power of the song never fades. Every note hit like it was the first time, and the crowd, silent in its admiration, felt it too. “Tightrope” will never get old, and hearing it live—each time—is a reminder of just how deeply it connects with the fans.

While the focus of the tour may have been on their latest album RUCKUS!, the band still made sure to dig deep, bringing back some old tracks and nodding to the past that helped shape who they are now. They kicked it all off with “Full Circle,” a perfect nod to where they’ve been and where they’re headed.

And as the night unfolded, Patrick looked out at the sea of fans, grinning. “This is a special night,” he said. “And when it’s a special night, you gotta do something special.” With that, they broke from the usual setlist. “We figured, why not? It’s the biggest show of the tour so far, and Chicago always has a special way of showing us love.” Patrick then called out, “This is ‘Deadly Dull’”—a track they hadn’t played since Atlanta, Georgia, only by a fan’s request. As soon as the first notes hit, the crowd’s reaction was electric, their energy rising with every word. It was clear that the fans were just as excited to hear this deep cut as the band was to play it again.

“This has been one of the best tours we’ve ever done,” he said. And honestly, I couldn’t agree more. The setlist was a perfect mix of a focus on RUCKUS! with just enough classics thrown in to cater to fans from every era of their journey. It felt like a love letter to both their past and present. Add to that the perfect support lineup—Downward, Scowl, and Citizen—each band building the energy from the very start, and it was clear why this show stood out. Every moment felt earned, every note hit hard, and the connection between the band and the crowd was undeniable.

One thing that really stood out was the lighting design. It was on another level—perfectly in tune with every song on the setlist. During the heavier moments, the lights were intense and overwhelming, matching the chaos and amplifying the energy in the room. Then, when things down, like during “Tightrope,” the lighting softened and created an emotional atmosphere, drawing everyone into the moment. It was another layer of storytelling that added so much depth to the entire experience.

The connection with the fans extended beyond the music and visuals. Movements has an ongoing merch item the band’s been offering over the past couple years: the fun pack. Packed with a variety of cool items, the fun pack comes with a raffle ticket that could win fans once-in-a-lifetime items, including a guitar that has been used to write every single record Movements has released. It’s a special way the band gives back to their fans, showing appreciation for their unwavering support. The chance to win something like that is a reminder of how far the band has come—and how they continue to connect with their fans in meaningful, personal ways.

As the night began to wind down, the band shifted gears and slowed things down by closing it out with “Daylily.” If you know Movements, you know “Daylily”—it’s a song that always brings the room together.

As Daylily built up, I found myself caught in the raw emotion of the song. It’s one of those moments where everything else fades away, and all you feel is the connection with everyone around you. It was the perfect moment to end the night—a track that allowed for both quiet reflection and a final surge of collective energy, leaving the crowd with a sense of fulfillment and connection that will carry on long after the show was over.