After hearing “Are You Bored Yet?” at darties one too many times, I wasn’t sure what to expect for Wallows’ performance at Merriweather on August 22nd. But I certainly wasn’t expecting the show to start with the curtains still down. As his silhouette peeked through the cloth, co-lead singer and guitarist Dylan Minnette crooned, reassuring the crowd: “Do not wait, do not wait, do not wait / I’ll be there, I’ll be there, I’ll be there.”
Then, the curtains lifted, and Wallows exploded into “Your Apartment,” the opener of their third album Model. An electrifying yet terribly relatable tale of insecurity following a heartbreak, “Your Apartment” was one of those songs you scream every lyric to: “I wonder who’s been at your apartment / Would you give in, or would you relent? / Who’s been trying to get into your bed?”
Few people know that Wallows have played together since middle school, but their decade-long camaraderie is evident to anyone lucky enough to witness them live. Minnette (co-lead singer, guitar), Braeden Lemasters (co-lead singer, bass), and Cole Preston (drums) brought their feel-good energy with the rendition of each song, aiming to give the audience “the best night ever, guys.”
However, Wallows’ vibes weren’t always what the crowd focused on. Following Minnette’s speaking interlude with the crowd, a girl in front of me whispered, “He’s so sexy I want to cry.” Personally, I prefer drummers!
A standout was “Quarterback” from their experimental 2021 Remote EP, in which Minnette and Preston switched instruments. Preston took up the guitar and Minnette beat the drum kit, a testament to the band’s multi-talented nature. Lemasters’ husky voice paired well with Preston’s cool tone on “Quarterback,” a song about liking a girl whose type is unfortunately football players: “Because summer’s gone / I’m alone wishin’ for your call, startin’ to freak / I’m not sure if he’s comin’ over for the night / Quarterback’s fine.”
Around halfway through the concert, Wallows explained how they came from “writing songs in [the] bedroom in 2018”, as they created a makeshift stage in the center of the Merriweather arena. The scene felt intimate with only a table, a lamp, and a few chairs, giving the audience a rare glimpse into Wallows’ humble beginnings. I found it touching that throughout this mini-set, Wallows only performed songs from the start of their careers.
One of these songs was “Pictures of Girls,” the lead single on their 2018 Spring EP, and the track for their TV debut on The Late Late Show. Minnette led a call and response with the audience during the bridge, moving to address all members of the crowd, some of which were tiptoeing over the balcony to get a better view: “You should be down in Hollywood / You should be down in Hollywood.”
For the closing portion of their set, Wallows returned to classic hits, like the 2019 Clairo-assisted “Are You Bored Yet?”, as well as some deep cuts such as “Pleaser,” a 2017 single. “Pleaser” was especially rhythmically interesting, marching from a 4/4 time to a 5/4 time signature between the verse and the chorus.
Finally, Wallows played “Only Ecstasy,” an end-credits worthy ballad on finding the person you want to be with for the rest of your life. “I see the eyes of unborn daughters, I see you on our deathbed too / Not long before or after me ‘cause I don’t want to outlive you,” the band sang in unison. You said it boys, not me!
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