Wallows with special guest Benee at The Chelsea inside the Cosmopolitan Theater

BENEE

Okay so I actually know way more BENEE songs than I had thought! Hailing from New Zealand, the rising pop sensation took the stage playing all her hits that we have heard so many times on the radio, and while we are shopping in retail stores. Her performance was nothing short of… enchanting. Known for her eclectic mix of avant-garde, indie, and pop, BENEE’s live performance really brought her sound to life.

The night began with a burst of color and energy as BENEE, wearing one of her signature stylish outfits, opened with ‘Kool’, which is just so groovy! The energy was just rocking from the start, and you could feel the floor bouncing with the crowd. BENEE’s charm and charisma had the crowd dancing with her all night long.

BENEE’s setlist was very well-curated with her biggest hits, including high energy tracks like ‘Glitter’ and ‘Wishful Thinking’. She closed out her set with my personal favorite, ‘Supalonely’, and left the audience hanging on for more! Hopefully we get a BENEE North America headlining tour not too long after she wraps up this run with Wallows!

BENEE is set to continue on the road with Wallows on the rest of their North American run.

WALLOWS

When Wallows took the stage, the atmosphere was pumping with anticipation. The indie-rock trio, known for their catchy melodies and introspective lyrics, delivered a performance that was just as captivating as it was dynamic. From the moment they kicked off with ‘Do Not Wait’, the crowd was hooked.

Opening with a mix of their newer tracks from their most recent album ‘Model’, these guys demonstrated an absolutely masterful command of their craft. The group, comprised of Dylan Minette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston, showcased their musical synergy with effortless transitions between high energy tracks and more mellow moments. Minnette’s distinct voice was in top form, resonating with passion and precision. Cole Preston’s drumming was incredibly precise, and provide a solid backbone for the rest of the band to play off of, while Lemasters’ guitar work was as clean as always.

The lighting and stage production really polished up the performance, and enhanced the overall experience without overshadowing the music. Cool visuals and dynamic lighting really complemented the band’s sound, and really gave the atmosphere that indie-rock vibe. The visuals during ‘Remember When’ were especially noteworthy, adding an emotional and energetic depth to the already dynamic song.

There was a portion of the set that was supposed to take place on a B stage in the middle of the crowd, however this venue was too small to do that. So instead, Minnette wandered off stage and started making his way around the crowd as he sang ‘She’s an Actress’, and the band continued their set on the main stage with a handful of acoustic songs. I think it would’ve been cool to experience the songs with the B stage as the band had intended, but it was nice to see them adapt easily to the situation.

Wallows finished off their set with an insane encore, playing not one, not two, but THREE more songs for the crowd, which was a perfect ending to a very dynamic set.

The band is set to continue on their ‘Model’ tour through the remainder of the United States this August and September, and then they head over to the UK in October.

Live photos by Addison Egelhoff for ZrockR Magazine 2024 – All Rights Reserved.