Based out of Southern California, Wallows returned to San Diego for the second-to-last stop on their Model tour, before heading off to Europe and the UK later this year. Wallows have had a meteoric rise, starting from a small indie band to headlining sold-out shows with over 5,000 seats. Earlier this year, they released Model, their third studio album, which was met with rave reviews from critics, drawing excited fans to the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater for an incredible night of music.

Wallows have cultivated an incredibly dedicated fan base, with many fans bringing signs to show their appreciation and long lines forming for exclusive merch, including vinyl records, t-shirts, and posters. As 9 PM hit, the lights dimmed, and the opening notes of “Do Not Wait”, a fan favorite sung by frontman Dylan Minnette, began to play behind a massive curtain covering the entire stage. As the intensity of the song built, with lights flashing the silhouettes of Wallows, the curtain dropped, transitioning into “Your Apartment”, a track from Model, with the stage mirroring the album cover's.

The energy continued as Wallows performed “Anytime, Always”, followed by one of my standouts of the night, “Scrawny”, with Dylan Minnette stepping close to the screaming fans at the barricade of the stage. Drummer, Cole Preston even took a turn on vocals, performing “Quarterback”, while Minnette switched roles to play the drums as Preston played the guitar.

The San Diego crowd’s excitement was noticeable simply by the sheer volume of their cheers, sometimes making it almost impossible to hear the band’s between-song banter. Wallows crafted a flawless setlist, having a perfect blend of newer tracks from Model with older fan favorites, creating a balance that both longtime fans and new fans could enjoy. Another standout moment was when Braeden Lemasters beautifully performed “Bad Dream”, a dreamy rock ballad exploring the uncertainty of relationships which was one of my favorites off their new record.

One of the most memorable parts of the night came when Dylan Minnette ventured into the crowd during “She’s an Actress”, creating an intimate moment that sent fans rushing from higher seats for a closer look. After returning to the stage, the setup shifted to a cozy, living-room-like atmosphere with a desk. Wallows used this more personal setting to sing some of their slower acoustic tracks such as “Pictures of Girls”, “Drunk on Halloween”, and a live debut of “That’s What I Get”, a treat for longtime fans.

While the stage was being reset, Braeden Lemasters took his own turn running into the crowd, singing “Going Under” even being handed a feather boa before Wallows dove back into some of their biggest hits, including “Pleaser” and “Calling After Me”. The night came to a close with “I Don’t Want to Talk”, and the crowd erupted in cheers, thankful for the incredible performance Wallows had delivered.

However, in true concert tradition, the fans weren't done yet, and their standing ovation called for an encore, bringing the band back on stage for a couple more songs. Wallows performed their biggest hit, “Are You Bored Yet?”, with the entire crowd singing Clairo’s part of the song in unison, creating a beautiful moment between the fans and the band. The band thanked their fans for their support, giving a special shoutout to their production team for making the show possible. Finally, capping off the night with a performance of, “Only Friend”. Wallows proved to be the real deal in the music industry being phenomenal live performers, delivering unforgettable fan moments by performing into the crowd and sharing guitar picks with day one’s at the barricades. While Wallows will be wrapping up their North American tour this month, one thing is certain: the demand for Wallows is high, and fans won’t have to wait long to see them back on the road in the near future.