The chill wind of the winter evening was the complete and perfect contrast of the warmth and energy inside the Astro Theater at Papillon on February 6th, 2025. This was where alternative indie rock band Wallows kicked off their 2025 “Model & More Tour”—right at the heart of Omaha. As teenagers in 2011, Dylan Minnette (lead vocalist and guitarist), Braeden Lemasters (vocalist and guitarist), and Cole Preston (drummer), came together to form the band we know today as Wallows. Based in Los Angeles and releasing music since 2017, Wallows has built their nationwide popularity through three studio albums, four EPs, and seven non-studio album singles.
Upon stepping into the concert venue, I was immediately hit with a wave of energy. Indie artist Deb Never did not disappoint in her opening as her performance mesmerized the audience throughout the initial phase of the show. She started off by singing “Say”, followed by numerous of her top songs and new releases. We had the privilege of being the first live audience to hear “This Alive”, which was launched right on the day of the concert. My personal favourite was between this newest release and “Not in Love”, a heartfelt and hazy lament. On the other hand, Never’s biggest crowd pleaser seemed to be “Momentary Sweetheart”, which left an imprint of raw, intense emotion on the audience. Not only that, but Never did a great job of greeting the crowd and singing with unabashed passion that captivated us all. The space felt intimate as Never stood centerstage with her guitar and microphone, accompanied only by a drummer and bassist/guitarist. Her performance felt intoxicating and dreamlike as bold shades of blue and red lights splashed the venue in color and her voice filled the space with raw emotion.
After taking her final bow, Never bid farewell and “WALLOWS” projected in bold print across the stage. Moments later, the lights dimmed and low synths hummed from above. Fans held their breath in anticipation as an isolated spotlight washed the stage’s canvas backdrop in a bright wave of white that revealed the silhouette of lead singer Dylan Minnette, who began to call out the opening lines of “Do Not Wait.” As the light shifted across the stage, the silhouettes of his band members peaked through, growing and shrinking in size like shadow puppets from nostalgic childhood memories. Some audience members cheered at the sight of this grand opening, while others stood in silent awe.
I could tell each song was polished and well-practiced, yet there was still an exciting and wild rapture in Lemasters and Minnette’s voices. There was a fresh, thrilling element of a veil being pulled away to reveal each track like it was being played for the first time. This was actually the case for “Your New Favourite Song”, which is a part of Wallows’ unreleased EP. Just hours before the show, Wallows announced their newest EP, “More”, which is set to launch on March 28 as they tour across the globe. The audience was thrilled to be the first to hear this live, and even though we didn’t know the lyrics, the crowd still buzzed with enthusiasm.
Even alongside many tracks from their newest album “Model”, the Wallows classics still shined through and stole the show for longtime fans. These included hit singles like “Quarterback”, “OK”, “Uncomfortable”, and their first song, “Pleaser”, which is also accredited for their rise to fame. Of course, no fans could forget the band’s all-time top tracks like “Scrawny”, “At the End of the Day”, and “Are You Bored Yet”. Overall, there was a brilliant balance of Wallows’ newest hits and timeless fan favorites.
The curated setlist created an energy that was palpable in the audience. Throughout the concert, Minnette and Lemasters interacted enthusiastically with the crowd; between songs, they cheered with us and raised their hands to command our attention towards the stage, all while holding broad smiles. During “Going Under”, Lemasters stepped off the stage and ventured into the crowd, shaking hands, taking photos, and even passing the mic to audience members. This created a truly close bond with fans that was even resonant to audience members who were across the venue from the band members.
After “Are You Bored Yet”, the bandmates showed their gratitude for our famed ‘Nebraska hospitality’ and bid the crowd adieu before leaving the stage. However, the audience wasn’t ready to reciprocate their farewell and end the evening of excitement. Wanting more, fans were hesitant to leave and began to chant for a final song. Following a momentary silence, Wallows bursted back on stage to perform their true finale. The night finished with “Only Ecstasy”, and the grand opening of the Wallows’ “Model & More Tour” came to a close. To put it simply, Wallows perfectly captured the feeling of summer; it was spectacular.
