Wallows
Electric Brixton // London, England // 6 June 2019
Review by Rachael Dowd
Bringing their Nothing Happens tour to London’s Electric Brixton last week, the relaxed, dreamy and beautifully crafted music from indie rock band Wallows was just what the London crowd needed on the gloomy Friday night.
Treating the sold out venue to a seventeen-song set list that included many tracks from their newly released album, Nothing Happens, the energetic and captivating performance Wallows gave London proved as to why they are one of the fastest growing acts in the genre right now.
Upbeat track “Treacherous Doctor” opened up the whole night, the dreamy and powerful vocals of Dylan Minnette sending many crowd members into hysterics the moment his mouth touched the microphone. Although Wallows tends to have a younger, and definitely passionate, group of fans in their crowds around the world, their show in London also proved that their music is universal, the sea of people representing individuals from all different age groups.
“Sidelines” and “Scrawny,” both off of Nothing Happens, were played early in the night, the laid back tracks helping those in the audience unwind from the long and stressful week they had had prior to walking through the Electric Brixton doors.
It is very important to note that although Wallows only made their major label debut last year, the chemistry each member has with each other while performing is undeniable thanks to their near decade of playing music together. Their history as both band members and friends is something we don’t often see and it is this closeness they have that helps to create an intimate atmosphere during their shows, making it seem like we are all just watching a few friends jam together in someone’s garage.
“Are You Bored Yet?,” undoubtedly their most popular song to date, took the energy in the venue to an all-time high, the loudness of the crowd making it clear that many had been waiting in anticipation to finally hear this track live. It was also clear by the smile and charismatic energy of vocalist Dylan Minnette during the performance that he, too, looks forward to playing this particular track in their set.
The encore performance of “1980s Horror Film” and “Pleaser” was an overall highlight of the whole night. Stripped down with just an acoustic guitar, “1980s Horror Film” has become a beloved track within the Wallows fandom, helping to create a moment in their London set that caused the crowd to sound louder than they had the entire night. Along with the vocals of Minnette, Preston and Lemasters, the audience sang each lyric passionately, creating a harmonious blend of voices that showed the dedication and love Wallows fans have for their music.
“Pleaser” helped bring the set to a close, ending the night on a high. The punchy indie rock tune was very fitting as the set’s closing track, both the band and crowd exerting every last bit of energy they had left during the song. Jumping in sync with the powerful drumming of Cole Preston, the sea of people moving more than they had the entire night, Wallows helped build the energy up during the bridge before the final chorus kicked in which caused an explosion of energy to erupt from the crowd. With everyone screaming the lyrics back to the band as they moved as much as their bodies would let them, “Pleaser” was a memorable moment that many fans won’t forget for a long time.
For those out there that believe Wallows is just another indie rock band signed to a major, their live show is just what they need to have their minds changed. With music that translates so effortlessly into a live performance, Dylan Minnette, Cole Preston and Braeden Lemasters should not be counted out just yet. Bringing beautifully crafted songs that are universally relatable to all age groups, their live show is both unique and carefree, helping to create an intimate atmosphere people can flock to when they need an escape from real life, even if only for a little while.
