Recap of Wallows Show at Westcott Theatre — 20 Watts Magazine | Premier Music Publication of SU

By Iris Carlson

All photos by Quinn Blackburn

On a snowy Thursday night in Syracuse Wallows brought a burst of energy to The Westcott with their powerful indie rock songs. Braeden LeMasters, Dylan Minnette, and Cole Preston have been touring the United States for about a month now promoting their debut album, Nothing Happens.

The night started with British group, Penelope Isles, swaying the crowd with their lush synths and dream-like melodies. They kept us engaged as they talked to the fans and joked that everyone was only there to see Wallows. I appreciated the humility, but they actually put on a great show that genuinely impressed me.

Wallows burst onto the stage illuminated by flashing purple, blue, and yellow lights that were slightly blinding, but added to the fervor that was going through the crowd. The Los Angeles based trio opened with “Sidelines,” a melodic single from their full-length album. The group went on to play some of my personal favorite songs from their earlier discography: “These Days,” “Sun Tan,” and “Pictures of Girls.” There’s something about the staccato keyboard notes, the live trumpet player, and the way Braeden and Dylan switch verses that keeps you captivated throughout all of their songs.