Show Preview: Wallows @ The Paramount
Wallows Live in Seattle
April 1, 2022 @ The Paramount Theatre
By Paul Broderson
National touring seems to be back in full swing — at least for now — meaning there are ample opportunities for Seattle-ites to re-immerse themselves in local venues for a look at the year’s trending artists.
One such opportunity presents itself this Friday, April 1 at the historic Paramount Theatre when alt-rock trio Wallows takes the stage for their first-ever Seattle show at one of the city’s largest indoor venues.
Cole Preston, who handles drums, guitar, keyboards, piano, and backing vocals on the band’s recordings, cites the Strokes Is This It as one of the first albums he purchased, which seems apt. Like that band, Wallows quickly rose to national acclaim by treading familiar musical waters — this is comfort food for fans of catchy alt-rock. Their sound is slicker and poppier than the Strokes, but they seem equally adept at writing memorable songs, as evidenced by the fact that their 2019 album Nothing Happens was one of the highest streamed debuts from any band that year, featuring their platinum-selling single “Are You Bored Yet?” (feat. Clairo), which made them instantly Tik-Tok famous.
Following their critically acclaimed 2020 EP Remote, the band released the first taste of music from their second album Tell Me That It’s Over with single “I Don’t Want to Talk” in September of 2021 and “Especially You” earlier this year. The full album hit virtual and physical shelves on March 25.
The Paramount show, which is the first stop on the band’s lengthy North American tour, is sold out, but the band will be on the road for most of the year including stops at big summer festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.