Wallows – The Baycare Sound – Clearwater, FL – February 23, 2025
It’s only been a few days and I’m still thinking about Wallows “Model & More” Tour.
Having three scheduled dates in FL on the North American leg of the tour, I had the pleasure of witnessing the electric show in Clearwater at the coolest waterfront venue: The Baycare Sound.
On May 24th, 2024, the Indie rock band released their third studio album, Model; Shortly after releasing North American tour dates. As the band ended for the month on what I can say is their coolest tour yet, I was able to catch a glimpse of a show that was filled with such high-energy and songs that brought out a new level of nostalgia. Florida fans were so excited to welcome the band back to the Sunshine State. Some lining up as early as 8am, they were eager to achieve a front row spot.
The show began with Deb Never’s opening set, getting the crowd very excited. Even though I was unfamiliar with her music, she brought an awesome vibe similar to Wallows.
After a brief set change, the lights slowly dimmed; the band opened their set with the song “Do Not Wait” from their first studio album Nothing Happens. They jumped around from different albums and were able to create a versatile setlist that featured fan favorites like “Sun Tan,” “Calling After Me,” and “Pleaser.” The band created an awesome representation of their indie/ rock sound.
With the focus pointed on their latest studio album Model, they made sure to throw in a lot of oldies that brought me and many others back to 2017. With this being the third time I’ve seen the band live; I can definitely tell you it gets better every single time. Making it big in 2017 with their hit single “Pleaser” the band is made up of three best friends: Braeden Lemasters (lead guitar and vocals), Cole Preston (drums), and Dylan Minnette (lead vocals).
The fans are what makes Wallows the band that they are. I’ve never seen such a dedicated and fun music loving group of humans, you could tell the band was feeding off of their energy. At one point lead singer Dylan Minnette asked the crowd “Do you guys like being called Clearwater or Tampa?” with the cities basically being right next to each other. He went on to receive many different answers from the crowd, joking about it the rest of the night.
One thing about the band is how amazing their stage presence is. Specifically Dylan Minnette, he engages so well with the fans even sometimes going into the crowd to get even closer to everyone. Braeden brings the energy, this night though he mentioned he had a cold, but that did not stop him from adding those cool rich harmonies to every song.
Last but certainly not least Cole Preston brought those indie beats we all love on the drums. At one point he got up to perform everyone’s favorite single “Quarterback.” Being a personal favorite of mine, I definitely felt the energy shift in such a unique way! The lyrics and delivery of some of their songs create an intense emotional connection for the fans. There truly wasn’t a moment when I wasn’t dancing or singing, seeing the band live is an unreal experience. The band left the stage and soon returned to end the night off with their most popular hit “Are You Bored Yet?” which in my opinion, I will never get tired of hearing.
Wallows brought an aura that was so full of love, life, and good music. Fans left the venue smiling ear to ear, and there was truly nothing better than experiencing such a fun and engaging show. No matter how long you've been a fan, the setlist had something for you. That is what this band does, they aim to put on a performance you will never forget.
I have had the wonderful fortune to see each album they've released live, and no matter what, they always bring something new and exciting to the table. With these Florida shows being their last until May, I highly encourage you to catch a show if you can. The band has a new EP out on March 28th called “More.” Be sure to tune into that and their whole discography, it will truly be worth your while.
Hayley Mathis
Copyright ©2025 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: February 25, 2025.
Photos by Hayley Mathis © 2025. All rights reserved.
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