Article by Ella Donovan. Photos by Madalyn Schaller.
After not seeing Wallows since the summer of 2022, Ella and Madalyn traveled from Pittsburgh to Columbia, MD, to catch the band at Merriweather Post Pavilion during their MODEL Tour. Despite being a last-minute trip, it turned out to be one of the most thrilling experiences they’ve had.
To understand why this show was so special, it’s important to know their history: Ella and Madalyn originally became friends in 2017 and then attended their first concert together in 2018 at Union Stage in Washington D.C. during Wallows’ North American Tour. At the time, the band only had a few songs released. Since then, Wallows has released the Spring EP, Nothing Happens, Tell Me That It’s Over, and MODEL. In the same time, the concert buddy duo has gone to over 100 concerts together, joined Almost Famous Zine, and realized they want to work within the music industry. Without going to that first Wallows show, who knows what Ella and Madalyn would have ended up doing.
Ella’s POV:
As we entered the gates of the venue, both Mads and I were instantly blown away. We had traveled to the D.C. area for concerts before, but never to this venue. It was an outdoor pavilion with a small GA pit, a seated section, and then in the back there was a lawn section. It wasn’t filled up when we first got there, but I definitely was not worried; it was going to be an amazing show.
BENEE
The opener BENEE, an award-winning New Zealand singer and songwriter, began around 7:30. The stage had a gigantic pink backdrop with her name plastered in big block letters, a perfect visual match for her music. There were multiple Benee fans scattered throughout the crowd, instantly on their feet and cheering as soon as she came onto stage.
Starting off with her song “Kool,” I could quickly see the people in the pit start bobbing their heads and swaying to the music. She had captivated the audience right from the beginning. Not only did she have a booming voice, but she also had a wonderful sense of humor and made lots of jokes that had me giggling throughout the set.
For her last song, Benee played “Supalonely,” one of her top songs featuring Gus Dapperton. The crowd knew this song as soon as it began, and everyone was on their feet. BENEE’s performance was fun, engaging, and full of energy, setting the perfect tone for Wallows’ upcoming set.
WALLOWS
As Mads and I waited between the opener and main set, our excitement grew. We couldn’t help but wonder if the show would live up to our expectations, especially since this was the largest venue we’d ever seen Wallows perform in. We wondered how different the experience would be. I checked the time, and realized the show was about to begin, so Madalyn made their way to the photo pit.
Suddenly, a large black backdrop fell from the roof of the stage, revealing the word “WALLOWS” in bold white letters. The whole venue went insane. Screams and cheers were heard from the GA pit all the way up to the top of the lawn section. This crowd was not playing around- the excitement was beginning to engulf every person present, and no one could wait much longer. After a few minutes went by, the background music became silent, and the black backdrop fell to the ground, getting swept away by the crew. Behind it was another white curtain-like backdrop.
A light appeared behind the curtain, illuminating the silhouette of singer and guitarist Dylan Minette. The first notes of “Do Not Wait” rang through the air, and any composure that the fans had disappeared. The entire crowd sang the deep and relatable lyrics with Dylan. It was so beautiful; concerts have this incredible ability to unite people. Hearing everyone sing together felt like a hug – comforting, happy and warm.
“Do Not Wait” progressed into the second verse, and silhouettes of the rest of the band slowly appeared alongside Dylan. These visuals were striking, making this one of their most captivating opening sequences. The slower song came to an end, blending right into the guitar riff to “Your Apartment,” the first single released from MODEL. The white curtain dramatically dropped, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Fans screamed, sang along, and danced with uncontainable joy. As the show went on, I realized this was going to happen for every single song. It was amazing.
A few songs into the set, guitarist and singer Braeden Lemasters stepped up to the microphone for “Don’t You Think It’s Strange,” one of my favorites off of the new album. I was thrilled to hear this one live- it has the familiar Wallows vibe, but with a twist. Braeden’s vocals were wonderful. He hit every note, singing with a strong and confident stage presence. You could tell that both him and Dylan’s voices were growing tired from the long tour, but they both still performed with high energy and good pitch.
After the song ended, drummer Cole Preston switched places with Dylan to take the lead on “Quarterback.” This song has been one of mine and Madalyn’s favorites for quite some time, but they hadn’t returned from the photo pit yet! The song reached the end of the first verse, and Mads suddenly appeared behind me. We sang and danced with each other, sharing another unforgettable moment.
B-STAGE
The first half of Wallows’ set was on the main stage. After the classic single “Uncomfortable,” the beginning of “She’s An Actress” began. At this point, Dylan had put down his guitar, and grabbed a handheld mic. Those who had been keeping up with the tour knew what was about to happen, while others were in for a big surprise.
Dylan made his way down into the crowd from the stage, singing as he crossed through the sea of fans. He was connecting with the audience up close and personal, which was visibly impacting each person he passed by.
Moments like these highlight Wallows’ trust in their fans and their commitment to maintaining a genuine connection with them. As a band that rose to fame quickly, having these interactions help keep the close-knit relationship that the boys have nurtured with their listeners.
For the entirety of the song, Dylan made his way from the main stage to the B-stage, which was between the seated section and the lawn section. As the song ended, Cole and Braeden joined him for an acoustic set, including “Pictures of Girls,” “Drunk on Halloween,” and “Only Friend.” While the acoustic versions of these songs were very different, Madalyn and I really enjoyed them. It was cool to hear a new version of songs that we have been listening to for years.
As “Only Friend” came to an end, the band began traveling back to the main stage. During this transition, Braeden sang “Worlds Apart” off of Nothing Happens. I was scanning the crowd trying to find where Braeden was singing from, when I started to hear his microphone cut out; he must have wandered too far.
The rest of the band had already returned to the stage, looking around in confusion as they waited for Braeden. As it turns out, he decided to share some popcorn with fans in the lawn, and then did a speed run around the concession stands. The song was nearing its end, but Braeden was still missing. Finally, he reappeared in the GA pit, sprinting back to the stage as his bandmates laughed at the unexpected detour.
For the last portion of the show, Wallows played fan favorites such as “Pleaser,” “Calling After Me,” “Remember When,” and “I Don’t Want to Talk.” Also, as a special surprise, they played a snippet of “Missing Out” from Tell Me That It’s Over, honoring a birthday request from a fan in the crowd.
As Wallows exited the stage, the entire venue erupted into cheers and screams, knowing an encore was inevitable. My friends and I, along with the crowd, began chanting “one more song!” with excitement.
As expected, the band returned to the stage, ready to perform two more songs for us. They ended the night with the viral hit “Are You Bored Yet?” and then “Only Ecstasy,” the closing song off of MODEL. Their energy was booming through the venue until the very last note.
After attending this concert, I was completely blown away by the performance—not just by the band’s incredible musicianship, but also by the stunning production. The lighting, set design, and overall experience was unmatched. Once again, Wallows delivered one of my all-time favorite live performances. They are continuously deepening their connection with fans at each show, proving why they have risen through the ranks to where they are now.
If reposting, please credit Almost Famous Zine, Ella Donovan (@elladxnovan), and Madalyn Schaller (@madalyns.photos).