Lighting up the stage with energy and passion was the indie-pop trio, Wallows, hailing all the way from Los Angeles. The ‘Model & More Tour’ celebrated their latest album, ‘Model’ as well as their newest EP ‘More’. It gave the new songs the chance to shine and be celebrated with fans whilst also being a night full of throw backs to the songs that started Wallow’s success and helped lead them to where they are now. Selling out the O2 Academy Glasgow and on the second show of their UK leg, as soon as I sat in my seat I could feel the excited energy buzzing around the room with everyone waiting in anticipation; I knew it would be a night to remember.
A band who have slowly been popping up across UK festivals all summer is the Irish indie rock band, Florence Road. After recently being introduced to their music and seeing them be announced as the support for Wallows, the lineup was promising and something I was looking forward to. As the four-piece stepped out on stage, they instantly commanded it as the drums began for ‘Figure It Out’ and pulled the crowd into the bubble their music creates and keeps you hooked. From Lily Aron’s stunning vocals to Emma Brandon’s unique and powerful guitar riffs that were found in almost every song. Whilst the band is up-and-coming it was easy to spot that they’ve already grown quite the fanbase as hundreds of voices could be heard singing along to ‘Heavy’ as Aron’s vocals were isolated with just the keyboard accompanying her. It was amazing to hear Florence Road live and their promise as a band is incredibly obvious, getting to discover support acts is always one of the best parts of a gig and Wallows made the perfect choice as they warmed the crowd up perfectly.
At 9pm the crowd went wild, with screams filling the room as the three stepped out on stage. With Braeden Lemasters’ guitar ringing out with the recognisable opening riff for ‘Your Apartment.’ From the barricade to the bar the atmosphere was electric as I looked down at the standing area and could see hundreds of people jumping about; instantly setting the scene for the incredible gig we were all about to embark upon. With Dylan Minnette’s lead vocals drawing you in and making you never want to leave the hour and a half of pure bliss that the band successfully created.
If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that Wallows have an incredibly dedicated fanbase and you could feel the passion radiating. Being able to find an artist that you connect with is special, the ability to press play on a song or album and relate to each and every word; it’s a priceless feeling. Live music is what connects fans to the artists who they feel recognise their hard times and intensify the good times too, capturing every feeling and putting it into music that every fan feels deeply. One way, as fans, that we can give back to these artists is by showing up and supporting them, and that’s exactly what was done at Wallows. During ‘Pictures of Girls’ hundreds of white, paper hearts could be seen being held up by fans in the crowd as they sang along to each and every word. Things like fan projects highlight a fanbase coming together, everyone wanting to show their appreciation for their shared love of the same band.
The band’s talent is evident as they sound identical live to their recorded music, and it only seems to get better as they play through the gig. Yet another unique feature is how the band will sometimes swap ‘roles’, with Minnette swapping from lead vocals to drums for one song with Cole Preston’s vocals getting a chance to shine as he sings ‘Quarterback’. Lemasters’ also takes turns doing the lead vocals in certain songs. The band are so incredibly cohesive, their versatility and talent is what separates them from every other indie-pop band at the moment. It celebrates their individual strengths, it gives them each a chance to command the stage and keeps the crowd as engaged as ever as they watch their favourite member thrive.
Crowd interaction can be a key part of a gig, and Wallow’s have the perfect balance of it and have integrated it flawlessly into their live shows. With Minnette often walking along the barricade and singing with the fans directly, including them in the beauty that is live music. Though one of the most anticipated aspects of a Wallow’s gig is being ‘OK’d’, this happens during the song ‘OK’ when Minnette holds the microphone over a few of the fans, giving them the chance to sing the fast paced bridge of the song whilst the crowd hypes them up in the background. Taking the fan interaction a step further was during the encore, which consists of one song that the fans get to choose. Tons of signs were suddenly being raised above heads, each person hoping that they’ll get to hear their song request that didn’t make it onto the setlist. This is how the song ‘Treacherous Doctor’ was the final song of the night and it’s easy to say it ended perfectly, the whole crowd bouncing as the energy on stage was infectious and impossible not to vibe along to.
The setlist celebrated the old and new music of the band, it showcased their growth and gave the newer songs the opportunity to be enjoyed by fans but also appreciate the older music that helped them get to where they are today. The choice of having ‘Pleaser’ into ‘Calling After Me’ then into ‘Are You Bored Yet?’ and finally followed by ‘Remember When’ was the perfect choice and was gladly welcomed by the crowd. The electric instrumentals and their chemistry on stage was undeniable, they work so well together and even after playing these songs for years now, they never seem sick of them and play them as if they’re brand new each and every time. Never losing the passion that’s always fuelled their music.
Wallow’s are continuing to grow and evolve as a band with every release, they don’t seem to stop and nobody’s complaining about that. The clear fun and enjoyment that they have on stage is what makes their gigs so memorable, the whole show feels like a party and a celebration of their music. Their talent is undeniable and they deserve the strong and committed fanbase that they’ve successfully grown. I can’t wait to see what they do next as everyone knows they’re only continuing to get better and keep on blowing away everyone’s expectations.