Featured image: Aidan Zamiri
Many concert goers wait several hours for the American indie band, Wallows, with superfans having queued from as early as midday to increase their chances of the barricade view. With an hour delay between VIP and general admission, there was a large rush to the stage, leaving many fans eagerly waiting for the support.
Enter Matilda Mann, beginning her set with a soft mellow voice that hums across the vast crowd. Teasing her second song, Mann strums her red guitar and asks if the crowd have seen the hit show, The Office. Inspired by Jim and Pam from the show, ‘Stranger (for now)’ has a calming tone with a catchy chorus.
A large curtain falls as Matilda exits, reading WALLOWS. At 8.30pm sharp, the voice of Dylan Minnette (star of the hit Netflix show, 13 Reasons why) echoes through the room, with no sign of the band on stage. A thrill spreads as a spotlight illuminates the shadow of lead Minnette, fans belting out the words to ‘Do not wait’. The lighting bounces across the stage throughout, concealing the trio. The curtain drops revealing the band riffing to the song ‘Your Apartment’.
Increasing the intensity, ‘Scrawny’ – taken from their most popular album ‘Nothing Happens’- is met with eruption from the crowd. Lightning switches from blue to pink during the chorus with the crowd jumping around in chaos.
Dylan declares he expects nothing less than the madness he remembers of Manchester crowds, hinting at a curveball, he launches into ‘Pulling Leaves off Trees’. The throwback surprises the crowd, it’s not what they’ve come to expect from the original setlist.
Thanking the crowd, drummer Cole Preston again speaks with praise for Manchester. Cheers erupt as he sings ‘Quarterback’. This song is upbeat and has the crowd enthralled.
The guitarist of the band, Braeden Lemasters, opens up to the crowd about how he was a “Huge smiths’ fan” specifying that Johnny Marr might be his favourite drummer of all time.
Switching up the emotional feel of the room, Braeden sings ‘Bad Dream’. The lights soften around him. Startling the front of the crowd, Dylan jumps down from the stage during ‘She’s an Actress’. Superfans are euphoric at this interaction.
The set changes as they gather around, guitars in hand, lit by only two lamps. This portion of the night is self-described as the ‘campfire songs’ aspect of the show. There’s a cosy feeling as the audience sings back the melodies of these gentler songs.
Once again the group deviates from the original setlist, closing on ‘Are you bored yet?’ and ‘Only Ecstasy’. The thrill in the room is palpable for the beloved classic. The night ends with a boost, as the room blasts into upbeat chaos. For this rising indie band, there will be no sticking to the script.
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