Words by Ella Donovan. Photos by Madalyn Schaller.
On February 18, Wallows returned to the Steel City once again for their Model & More Tour.
With the band growing out of Stage AE, many wondered what venue Wallows would play when they came back to Pittsburgh. The UPMC Events Center, on Robert Morris University’s campus, turned out to be a wonderful choice. There’s something about seeing a band you love in a new venue that makes the night feel like uncharted territory.
Fans were packed in early, buzzing with anticipation—some in Wallows merch from past tours, others chatting about what songs would make the setlist.
The entire floor was the general admission pit, with the main stage at the front and a B-stage towards the back of the arena. Halfway through the show, each Wallows member made their way to the second stage for a few acoustic songs.
Shockingly, Dylan Minnette passed directly through the crowd while he sang “She’s An Actress” to the sea of fans surrounding him. You could see the shock spreading across the concertgoers’ faces as he walked right by. It was hard to hear the song over the echoes of screams from the fans.
The acoustic set felt like a breath of fresh air in the middle of the show. Stripped down and a little softer, it gave everyone a chance to catch their breath. Even from the very back, you could feel the connection between the band and the crowd—each band member was interacting with the people around them.
By the time the acoustic portion ended and the band was walking back to the main stage, Braeden Lemasters began to sing “Worlds Apart” from their debut album, Nothing Happens. Everyone was looking around to see where he was singing from, because he seemingly disappeared. Suddenly, he revealed himself up in the very back row of the venue with a spotlight on him. The fans who bought the nosebleed tickets never would’ve imagined getting to see Lemasters performing this close, and were ecstatic.
From start to finish, the crowd sang along, jumping and swaying like one big wave. The energy in the room was swelling and burst during the encore when the first notes of “Are You Bored Yet?” rang out—suddenly, every phone was in the air, everyone screaming the lyrics together. As the final notes faded and the lights came back on, you could feel how much fun this show was—not just to the fans, but for the band too.
Wallows have always had a way of making even a packed venue feel personal. If this show proved anything, it’s that no matter how big the venues get, their connection with fans is only getting stronger.
Live from the Pitt 