Live Review: Wallows - O2 Academy, Edinburgh 17/10/2024
Wallows return to the UK after more than a year away to celebrate their newest album and what better way is there to celebrate than playing in Edinburgh?
LA trio kicked off the UK leg of their tour this month and it's already cemented itself as one to remember because it marked their first ever shows in Edinburgh. The anticipation and excitement about the concert was just as palpable in the iconic O2 Academy hall as it was when the listings were announced; fans have had the whole summer to learn the album inside and out and everyone has come prepared to show off that Scottish spirit that keeps artists coming back. Tickets sold out a while ago and being in the peak of the October school holidays, the venue is alive with people; young, old, locals and some who have traveled lengths to get here. Being at the second of the two shows was particularly special-there was lots of buzz about the previous night's performance with lots of crowd members having gotten tickets for both. Being in the room and able to create a memory both with the fans and with the band on their first jaunt to the capital made the whole night that bit more special.
Opening for a band like Wallows who have cultivated a following and aesthetic would have been an impossible task, but Matilda Mann took it in her stride. She along with her bandmates Lloyd Haines (drums), Jack Tustin (bass/vox) and Ellie Mason (guitar/keys) were at home on stage as they put out one sweet bedroom pop tune after another, warmly illuminated in autumn hues. It's a time for celebration; with new tunes like ‘Say It Back’ soaring on Spotify and a debut album on the horizon, she’s an artist everyone is overjoyed to be introduced to. The crowd was especially pleased to hear an unreleased track from the album set to come in February and ate up the closing titular line ‘Kiss me quick and I’ll see you later’.
As the lights go out for Wallows, the screams are deafening. The stage is in darkness except for a single spotlight on Dylan Minnette. He usually wears lots of hats in the band; co-lead singer, rhythm guitarist and bassist but the trio are joined onstage by friends, giving Dylan and the rest of the band the opportunity to really work the crowd, which they do in heaps. The night kicks off with ‘Do Not Wait’, taken from their 2019 debut album, before diving headfirst into their new repertoire. ‘Anytime, Always’ in particular goes down a treat and has the whole audience singing along. Heading back to their roots, there's a lovely moment towards the end of ‘Scrawny’ where the house lights come on and all the band wave at the screaming fans at the barrier. In the bright lights, the whole room could be heard screaming the lyric ‘Scrawny motherfucker with a cool hairstyle’ at the top of their lungs and its massively endearing moment capturing exactly what these guys are all about; creating connections through music.
Between songs we are given anecdotes into their first time in the city; adventures walking around, the differences between Edinburgh and LA and games of Settlers of Katar (all won by drummer Cole Preston). During ‘You (Show Me Where My Days Went)’ there is the realisation by Dylan that he is wearing the same shirt as he had on during the music video causing the crowd to erupt in laughter and cheers. There’s a real warmth and familiarity in the room; we feel more like friends than fans. The aesthetic of their latest album, ‘Model’, really leans into this and informs the setting of the stage. The homely and friendly vibes taken from the album cover and music videos is emulated onstage through what I heard a member of the crowd dub ‘effervescent bisexual lighting’ with moody shades of pink, purple and blue. During ‘Just Like A Movie’, a set of twinkling star lights appear like magic on the curtains behind the band, transporting all of us to a galaxy of our own.
Let it be known though, these lads aren’t just here to look pretty. There’s so many highlights throughout the night where everyone onstage gets to show off their talent and prowess: ‘Bad Dream’ began with a stunning keyboard interlude, there's a sensational drum breakdown during the bridge of ‘Quarterback’, and the vocals on ‘A Warning’ send ripples of goosebumps through the room. There truly is no weak link on the stage and the boost that comes from having Blake Morell, Kevin Grimmett and Danny Ferenbach really gives the sound that extra oomph. Things close out with a more than welcome encore featuring fan favourites ‘Only Friend’ and ‘Are You Bored Yet’ and hundreds of heartfelt thank yous to everyone who made tonight possible. Each band member, including the three bonus members, get a huge applause and so too do the tech and production teams and all the front of house staff at the O2. Leaving and heading out into the cold is bittersweet but made all the better by hearing a group of kids on the bus home singing along to the song that kicked off my introduction to the band, ‘1980s Horror Film’.
The tour continues in the UK before heading down under for a handful of dates in the leadup to Christmas. The announcement of US dates this week has given everyone here who missed out on tickets an excuse to travel across the pond in the new year.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
