FOLIO
Words & Photos by Courtney Thomassen
Earlier this summer indie rock trio Wallows hit the road to promote the release of Model, their third studio album. Although slated as a world tour with dates as far away as Australia later this year, the Model tour neglected to include any stops in Florida, leaving Jacksonville fans to make the somewhat reasonable trip to Atlanta if they wanted to experience the show live.
Nestled in the heart of Fulton County’s Chastain Park is Cadence Bank Amphitheatre, an outdoor venue seating just under seven thousand and the venue for tonight’s show. For a Floridian an uncovered outdoor concert in the middle of summer might induce stress, but mild temperatures and skies clear of seasonal thunderstorms left concertgoers free to enjoy the fresh air. And if just being outside didn’t already scream ‘mini vacation,’ the steep hike down to Gate 1 would – had it been in the Sunshine State it probably would’ve cracked the top ten for highest hill.
Shows with entirely reserved seating tend to be more relaxed since all advantage to early arrival is moot, but when doors opened at 6:30PM a long line had formed of fans who could not wait to get in. One by one guests shuffled in and slowly the seats filled until BENEE took the stage for her 7:30PM opening set. It didn’t take long for the Auckland singer songwriter to win the crowd over with her infectious energy and upbeat alt-pop sound. As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the amphitheater, BENEE performed ten songs including “Find An Island,” “Green Honda,” and fan favorite “Beach Boy,” only stopping between tracks to interact with fans and read homemade signs. By the time her set ended with “Supalonely,” everyone was up and dancing along. The 2019 hit single, which gained popularity largely through social media app TikTok, left fans with a high that carried them straight into the main event.
A curtain bearing large, white block letters spelling “WALLOWS” unraveled to cover the stage as the set changeover began, prompting near blood curdling screams from the pit. Dusk had turned to night when a white light shone onto the curtain until it fell away, revealing a second white sheet behind it. A spotlight backlit singer Dylan Minnette, casting a silhouette on the curtain as the opening notes to “Do Not Wait” rang out across the venue. The rolling melody of the Nothing Happens closing track played in time with additional lights, turning on and off to reveal silhouettes of each band member before strobing wildly for the final curtain drop. The opening riff of Model’s lead single “Your Apartment” sent the crowd into a frenzy, screaming and singing along with the now visible band. After “Anytime, Always” and older favorite “Scrawny,” Guitarist Braeden Lemasters took over the mic for “Don’t You Think It’s Strange?”
The trio, which consists of Minnette, Lemasters, and drummer Cole Preston, are unconventionally loose when it comes to positions within the group. While most of the songs feature lead vocals from Minnette, a significant portion of Wallows’ discography is sung by Lemasters and a few tracks even see Preston take over. A staple of recent Wallows setlists has been “Quarterback,” during which Preston sings and Minnette has a turn at the drums. The set continued with a healthy mix of songs new and old, including “Bad Dream,” “You (Show Me Where My Days Went),” and “A Warning” from the recent release alongside classics “These Days” and “Just Like a Movie.” The intimate size of Cadence Bank Amphitheatre was remarked upon multiple times throughout the evening, with Minnette pointing out how the front seats were only a few feet away. During “She’s An Actress,” the front row ceased to be the best seats in the house as the singer exited the stage to walk through the crowd to a platform set up behind the pit. Fans jumped from their seats and flooded to the nearest open aisle hoping to catch a glimpse as he passed, eventually migrating to the barricade around B stage once Braeden and Cole caught up. For three songs, including fan choice “1980’s Horror Film,” the trio stripped back to an intimate, acoustic performance. Preston and Minnette made their way back to the main stage, this time leaving Lemasters to spend some time in the crowd as he sang “Worlds Apart.”
As the set neared its end, it was clear the boys were not pulling any punches for the big finale. Debut single and appropriately titled “Pleaser” was just that – a huge crowd pleaser, and when the opening notes of “Remember When” were recognized the venue erupted. The music of Tell Me That It’s Over lead single “I Don’t Want To Talk” faded away, replaced with unrelenting cheers and calls for an encore from all sections of the venue. The silence from stage was short lived as Minnette, Lemasters and Preston reappeared. “Give us everything you have for these last songs,” Minnette asked, and the crowd delivered. “Are You Bored Yet?” and Model closing track “Only Ecstasy” brought the night to an official end, but the band stayed to throw setlists, picks and drumsticks to lucky fans waiting on the floor. For fans of their music or even the casual concertgoer, seeing Wallows live is a must. While it was well worth the trip for those who were able, here’s to hoping the next tour will stop a little closer to home.
Follow FOLIO!