Model Tour

Nearing the midpoint of their 2024 world tour, Wallows made their stop in Atlanta, GA on Monday, August 19th at the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park. The crowd’s energy did not disappoint as the sun set over the venue and the band’s name plastered across the curtain in front of the stage. There was an electric feel to the air, an excitement, for the band’s return to Atlanta after their back to back 2022 shows. The band opened the show with Do Not Wait from their first album, an almost cinematic opening setting high expectations for the rest of the night.

The setlist was filled with older fan favorites from their first two albums and various EPs that bounced between those and their newer songs from their latest album, Model, that was released earlier this year in May. It was a setlist that flowed easily and effortlessly, keeping the attention of fans and keeping them on edge for what to expect next. Wallows are known for their amazing live performances and they did not let Atlanta down fans. The sound mixing was crisp and sounded beautiful, never getting lost amidst the cheering crowd singing back to the band. 

A little over halfway through the set, a commotion in the crowd had fans freaking out. Dylan, guitarist and vocalist for Wallows, walked through one of the isles whilst singing to get to the B stage set up behind the pit. Fans were respectful and did little more than ask for high fives and fist bumps as the singer and a security guard made their way towards the smaller stage. The two remaining members of the trio, Braeden and Cole, followed suit in a more lowkey maneuver through the venue. Before their last song of the acoustic set, the band decided to deviate from the projected setlist. A setlist from the stage reveals that instead of playing Only Friend from the band’s first album, they allowed the crowd to choose the final acoustic song which ended up being 1980’s Horror Film - a perfect song for their smaller set and for crowd interaction before returning to the main stage and continuing the show.

Throughout the night, the band made several comments on their love for performing in Atlanta which, obviously, excited the crowd and made them feel appreciated. The band picked up on the dancing and how loud the crowd was almost immediately and how easy it was for them to see and be near their fans as they performed. The venue itself felt even more intimate than the previous venues Wallows have performed at in Atlanta, another observation members of the band pointed out. It definitely allowed for a heightened experience for both fans who’ve seen the band before and those who were seeing them for the first time.

As Wallows were nearing the end of their set, they encouraged the crowd to go as crazy as they could for the remaining songs and their fans didn’t dare let the band down. This crowd jumped, danced, and sang their hearts out, at times sounding louder than the actual band, especially during the encore which opened with arguably their most notable hit Are You Bored Yet?, a song that projected them onto the radar of so many current fans. They ended the show with Only Ecstasy, a love song about falling in love with someone who gives you so much serotonin that you can see being with them forever. The song felt to have resonated with so many in the crowd, particularly a sweet couple in the pit who turned to sing the song to each other. But whether that connection was through their own romantic relationships or rather the relationship they’ve built with the music Wallows has given them, it was clear that there was nothing but love and appreciation for both the band, the music, and the fans in the air that night.