*Cover Photo By: Corwin Wickersham
“We’re really getting to know Boston and we’re loving it. What a beautiful city,” said Dylan Minnette, a member of alt-rock trio Wallows.
The Los Angeles-based band had a day off to explore the city and catch a Red Sox game before the first of two sold out shows at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Monday, Aug. 26 on their “Model World Tour.”
The trio is composed of 13 Reasons Why actor Minnette on vocals and guitar, Braedon Lemasters on vocals and guitar and Cole Preston on vocals and drums. They released their first single “Pleaser” in 2017 and have recorded three studio records since.
Alt-pop singer-songwriter BENEE opened the concert with blaring bass and flashing lights. Bizarre, galactic sounds played on “Soaked” and “Green Honda” — the Brat of cars – featured video game-like sounds. She played her upcoming single “Sad Boii” and ended with her viral TikTok hit “Supalonely.”
Wallows released their latest album Model on May 24, traversing nostalgia, love and insecurity in romantic relationships. The cover art became the ever-changing set. A backdrop that looked like a backstage area dropped to reveal a living room with a stunning sunset peaking through the window — the album’s cover. That set then collapsed, unveiling a huge sunset, which dropped to expose twinkling lights mimicking stars.
Minnette took the lead on “Your Apartment,” the band’s hit song about establishing healthy boundaries with your ex. He captured the persona of an indie heartthrob, engaging in small pelvic thrusts reminiscent of The Driver Era’s Ross Lynch.
“Scrawny” shifted the energy in a more carefree direction with fans jumping up and down. The single develops a memorable guitar riff with comically self-aware lyrics.
“I’m a scrawny motherfucker with a cool hairstyle,” Minnette sings.
Before “Quarterback,” Lemasters started Vampire Weekend’s “Ladies of Cambridge,” reflecting on being in Boston. Preston swapped drums for vocals with Minette and sang the swinging song about being someone’s backup option.
The band moved to center stage with just the faux stars and a lamp for lighting, singing stripped down “Let the Sun In” with acoustic and electric guitar and light synths. Without other instruments blasting through the speakers, you could clearly hear the strength in Minnette and Lemasters’ harmonies – they almost sounded Beatles-esque.
“Help me darling, now I’m feeling so lost/ And help me darling, now I’m feeling shy/ With you I see the world completely different/ With you I need no place to hide,” they sang together, soaking in the intimacy of a shared campfire moment with 5,000 people.
Wallows closed out their set with the viral “Are You Bored Yet?” about someone realizing their relationship won’t last, originally featuring Carlisle-raised singer-songwriter Clairo. While it’s an inevitable ending, the cinematic single laced with bright synths was a pivotal beginning for the trio.
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