WALLOWS LIVE AT THE BAYCARE SOUND

All photos by Kylie Fridge @whogavekyacamera

One by one, each member of the indie band Wallows appeared in silhouette behind a curtain, backlit during the opening moments of their first song, “Do Not Wait.” The crowd erupted in excitement. As the curtain dropped and the band launched into the next song, “Your Apartment,” the energy only grew, with Dylan Minnette pacing across the stage and scanning the audience as he sang. Performing at The BayCare Sound in Clearwater, FL on February 23, the band took this opportunity to spotlight their new 2024 album Model, playing several standout tracks from the record.

To keep the crowd hooked throughout the night, Wallows filled their setlist with a mix of big hits and personal favorites. Their fourth song, “Scrawny” — the band’s third most-streamed track — marked a turning point, as most (if not all) of the audience joined in, singing along with Dylan as he bounced to the rhythmic beat. Afterward, Dylan introduced each member of the tight-knit group, with drummer Cole Preston throwing in a quick riff after each name was called.

While Wallows brought the music, the audience brought the atmosphere — the kind of electricity that every concert needs to come alive. Their performance of “At The End of the Day” slowed things down without losing momentum, as the amphitheater swayed in unison to the beat, Dylan drawing the crowd in even more before the final stretch of the show.

As their final song, “I Don’t Want to Talk,” came to a close, the band exited the stage — but the crowd wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Initial murmurs quickly turned into chants of “ONE MORE SONG!” In response, Wallows returned for an encore, closing out the night with their fan-favorite “Are You Bored Yet?” under dancing lights and the parting words: “Thank you, Tampa!”