Wallows Wind Up First Leg of US Tour in Denver
July 6, 2022
Photos: Oliver Thieme
Wallows – the dreamy trio of twenty-something popsters led by media darlings Braeden Lemasters and Dylan Minnette – were scheduled to wrap up the first leg of their huge US tour here in Denver at the Mission Ballroom, until more of this crazy pandemic culture scratched that (a few rescheduled dates followed Denver’s turn). Still, their show at the Mission felt like it was the explosive climax of a successful tour. The crowd was pumped, some carrying amusing signs, others screaming in close-to-Beatlemania antics as the hunky TNT and Netflix stars crooned.
The trio has been around for a number of years, having formed in Los Angeles, California in 2017 – only recently being boosted by Lemasters and Minnette’s extracurricular activities. They already had a reputation for quirky 80s-meets-a-shade-of emo indy pop when Minnette scored the lead in the massively popular Netflix vehicle “13 Reasons Why.” The trio had already released a respectable number of pop-sweet tunes, and had even laded a spot on the Warped tour before their faces became TV fodder across the US (and around the world).
Despite their being together as a band for the past five years, last Saturday was their first time playing in Colorado. This fact surprised many, especially since Denver seems to be a hotspot for upcoming artists and concerts in general, but nevertheless they expressed their excitement for finally making it our way to play a show.
The Mission Ballroom did for them what it does for many, providing an intimate setting to interact with fans. They took advantage of this and called out individuals in the crowd, complimenting their outfits and such. They even called out some not-so-good people, having them removed from the venue and ensuring everyone’s safety. It was apparent that while they wanted everyone to have a good time, they also wanted to make sure they created a positive environment where people could feel comfortable.
Their setlist showed a wealth of rock experience, featuring hits from across the years together – ever since Lemasters and Minette shared a music class when they were teens. They played the better part of two hours, spilling out 20-plus tunes, before Minnette apologized for having to stop because they were hungry.
They played hits like “Scrawny” and “Remember When” from 2019’s Nothing Happens, mixed in with a healthy selection from their latest Tell Me That It’s Over, including “Hard to Believe,” “I Don’t Want to Talk,” and “Especially You,” and a whole lot more. The super-excited fans kept begging for more (the band had to stop at one point due to one fan fainting during the encore), and they kept delivering until they closed the night with probably their biggest hit “Are You Bored Yet?”
LA bedroom pop diva Spill Tab (AKA Claire Chicha) graced the Mission with a solid set to open the night, treating all of the crowd with their unique indy pop. While their music was probably somewhat different from what the crowd anticipated, the duo received a joyous response. They did a fantastic job of ramping up the energy and preparing for the main act, while still focusing on themselves and their performance.
Overall, Spill tab and Wallows complimented each other very well, the Mission Ballroom was an excellent jumping off point for both bands in Denver, and it seems both groups will only spiral upward from here.
Setlist
Courtesy Setlist.fm
