Alternative rock band Wallows began their international headlining tour on Aug. 6, 2024, shortly after the release of their latest album, “Model.” Commencing in Portland, Ore., fans in North America were the first to hear the band live on this tour, however, their most local show at the Santa Barbara Bowl was played on Sept. 9, 2024.
Wallows, who became increasingly popular due to viral songs on TikTok, have released three studio albums and six Extended Plays (EP) over their career together. The band members include Dylan Minnette as lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Braeden Lemasters as lead guitarist and co-singer and Cole Preston on both the guitar and the drums. With almost 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, the band has garnered fans all across the world. Their announcement of the “Model” tour on May 29, 2024 came from an interview with Good Morning America, which released tickets for almost 40 shows in seven countries.
As fans packed into the almost sold-out show, BENNE, a singer-songwriter from New Zealand, began her opening set which lasted just short of 40 minutes. As BENNE left the stage, the sun could be seen setting over the city and the anticipation for the main show brewed. Shortly after, a banner displaying the band’s name fell upon the stage, causing a roar of applause and screams throughout the stands.
Just past 8 p.m., the band opened their performance with a fast-paced song called “Do Not Wait” off their debut album “Nothing Happens.” While this song isn’t one of their most popular, its synth-rock energy got the audience out of their seats and ready for the coming show. The band continued with tracks from the tour’s title album, “Model”, including “Your Apartment” and “Anytime, Always,” which got fans singing along.
After the first four songs, the band members took a moment to introduce themselves to the audience and acknowledge that it was their first show back in Southern California after touring the rest of the country in August. As a band formed in Los Angeles, Minnette noted that it felt good to be back home. Moreover, they often mentioned going to the beach or various places in the area, which ignited audience reaction.
At their other North American concerts, the band usually moves to a smaller stage in the back so fans sitting in higher seats can also see the concert from an intimate perspective. While this acoustic portion only lasts three songs, it allows everyone in the venue to get as close as those in General Admission (GA). However, due to the small capacity of only 4,500 seats at the Santa Barbara Bowl, they chose to stay on the main stage for the entirety of the show. To make up for this, Minnette introduced a surprise guest on stage who turned out to be singer-songwriter Remi Wolf. Wolf, who performed at the same venue on Sept. 10, 2024, played “OK” with the Wallows as an ode to their past collaboration.
Since they didn’t have a second stage, it was obvious that the band members were taking every opportunity they had to make the audience feel more connected. From quick conversations between songs to close interactions with fans in the GA pit, their audience engagement was 10/10. Minnette went as far as standing in the GA pit with fans while singing “She’s An Actress,” and Lemasters later walked around the entire crowd during “Worlds Apart.”
As the night came to a close, the energy of the band during their final songs did not dwindle. Playing the popular tracks “Remember When” and “I Don’t Want to Talk” from their earlier albums had the audience dancing along and singing every word. Seemingly done with the show, the Wallows thanked their fans and left the stage amidst shouts for an encore among the crowd. Reemerging back on stage minutes later to play “Are You Bored Yet?” and “Only Ecstasy,” they did not disappoint. The final portion of their show was full of moments to remember, as the audience and band fed off of each other’s positive energy, making the last minutes of the show count.
Wallows proved that their concerts are not only a great place to hear their music live, but to interact with the band and fans as well. From vocals to background sound, their stage presence was unmatched, and as they close the North American leg of the “Model” tour, fans can be sure to see Wallows back in California soon.
