Wallows: Model Tour Review

I am glad I was not “Missing Out” on the Wallows tour! Wallows stopped by San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium as part of their “Model” tour, which I was privileged enough see it for myself.

This was my second time watching them live. My first time was in 2022 when they came to Ace Of Spades, just here in Sacramento for their “Tell Me That It’s Over” tour. Watching Wallows was very important for me as they are the band that has ultimately determined the kind of music I listen to today.

If you tune into my show, “Red Ribbon Hour”, you’ll know that every week I find a way to squeeze one of their songs. Despite my immense love for them and that I have already seen them perform live, this review is going to be completely unbiased and of its own.

Wallows are an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, members consisting of Dylan Minnette (vocals/guitar), Braeden Lemasters (vocals/guitar), and Cole Preston (guitar/drums). The band initially met when they all were enrolled in the GigMasterz program in Southern California. They formed their band in 2011 calling themselves “Feaver”, They then changed their name to “The Narwhals” from 2011 to 2017 before settling on Wallows in 2017. Fun Fact: their name is inspired by Tony Hawk and his group, Animal Chin, who used to skate in Hawaii.

Their first single as Wallows was “Pleaser”, which reached number two on the Spotify Global Viral 50 Chart. In 2019, the band released their biggest single “Are You Bored Yet” featuring Clairo, which earned them a nomination for an MTV Video Music Award for “Best Performance of the Year”. Plus, this song went viral all over the social media, especially  TikTok. If the band or its breakout songs doesn’t seem familiar yet then maybe the band members’ background will.

Before music, Dylan and Braedan were child actors. Dylan is most notable for his role as “Clay Jenson” in the Netflix original “Thirteen Reasons Why,” and for his recent project “Scream.” Braedan’s most notable roles include, “A Christmas Story 2” and R.L Stine’s “Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls”. The two have since shifted their focus on music and never mentioned if or when they would return to acting.

I feel very fortunate and lucky to have seen the Wallows twice now, and let me say, this was the best show I have ever been to – even better than “Tell Me That It’s Over” tour. The performances itself were stellar, but the only thing that was unenjoyable was the general admission pit and the fans itself.

The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium itself was beautiful, reminding me of an old theater or opera of some sort. There was seating on the top deck and general admission on the bottom. The stage was a platform stage over general admission which actually made it really difficult to see the band over mounts of tall people who flocked to the front. The fans were very pushy and aggressive, and multiple times I felt packed in as sardines in a can as I felt people breathing down my neck.

At one point in the show, the band makes its way through the crowd while performing to make it to the back of the auditorium – the B-stage. This made all the fans go crazy as this was our only chance to see the members up close. This unfortunately made everyone rush from where they were to the B-stage, causing chaos on the floor. 

On their way there, a fan made an inappropriate altercation with Dylan which was very upsetting for the band and to the fans. Beside the incident, the band still performed amazingly as they continued to interact with the crowd and continue playing hard.

The band was very energetic! Their vocals never faltered and their instrumentals were loud in the best way. I was so happy that I couldn’t hear and my voice was gone after.

The opener was New Zealand Alternative singer, Benee, who most notably rose to fame during the pandemic for her song “Supalonely.” It was so fun to see her perform as all her songs and visuals were vibrant. Her outfit was just as eccentric as her songs. Plus, she even introduced us to a few of her new songs. Usually everyone tends to tune out and not so much care about the opener, but here everyone was singing along with her and dancing.

The technical aspect of the show was so vibrant and in tune with their personal aesthetics and vibes of the songs that they played. The show opened with a white curtain that was backlit to showcase the band member’s shadows. From behind the curtain, Dylan sang their song “Do Not Wait” softly, and the crowd went crazy! When the curtain dropped they began their song, “Your Apartment” which was all so visibly and audibly pleasing. The tempo went from slow to fast in 0.5 seconds and then I knew this show was going to be the best.

The lighting and designing on the B-stage corresponded with the “Model” album cover as it featured a couple of colorful sofas and a single lamp, creating a cozy and homey atmosphere. During the fan-favorite song, “Remember When,” Dylan asked everyone to put their phones away and just jump during the bridge and ending part of the song. The lights strobed in black and white and everyone’s hands were in the air. It felt very surreal like a moment out of a movie.

They played all of their best hits from the “Model” album and more fan favorites. There was never a dull moment. By dull I mean I also had class the next morning followed by another concert that same night. I wish I could go back in time and relive this moment again instead of watching the dark and blurry videos on my phone – and I’m already excited for their next tour.

No matter how old or busy I am, I will always make time to see Wallows live. But as for now, I will continue to reminisce about that night, wear my merch, and have the post concert blues.