Del Water Gap’s “Chasing the Chimera” Tour Finds Intimacy in The Wiltern
Del Water Gap, the solo project of singer-songwriter Samuel Holden Jaffe, brought his “Chasing the Chimera” tour to a sold-out crowd at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on . Touring in support of his new album of the same name, released on , Jaffe delivered a performance that balanced established favorites with fresh material, creating an intimate and emotionally resonant experience for fans.
Jaffe acknowledged the non-linear path of his career during the show, stating, “This whole music thing has not been a straight line for me.” The artist, originally from Connecticut and now based in New York, adopted the moniker Del Water Gap while attending boarding school in Millbrook, New York, after spotting the name on a box truck. He continued to develop his musical skills while studying sound production at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
The tour, which began on , features support from Texan pop singer Hannah Jadagu on the North American leg. It follows a string of notable tour performances over the last five years alongside artists like Jeremy Zucker, Arlo Parks, Maggie Rogers, and Niall Horan. The “Chasing the Chimera” tour is scheduled to continue across the U.S. And Europe, culminating at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee in June.
The evening at The Wiltern began with an opening set from Jadagu, who energized the crowd with her performance. Del Water Gap then took the stage shortly after 9:20 p.m., launching into his set with “Small Town Joan of Arc” amidst a foggy purple haze and strobe lights. He was dressed in a white tank top, dress pants, and a classic black jacket.
Jaffe’s stage presence was commanding, and he skillfully navigated between indie and pop-rock sounds throughout the 19-song setlist, which lasted over an hour and a half. Songs like “Sorry I Am” and “Better Than I Know Myself” prompted audience participation, while the stage design – featuring a flowing white sheet – aimed to encapsulate the emotional closeness of the performance, though it occasionally proved distracting.
The setlist included popular tracks like “High Tops” and “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat,” alongside deeper cuts from his discography. Jaffe frequently engaged with the audience, moving across the stage and connecting with fans. During “Please Follow,” he swayed and staggered with the lyrics, captivating the crowd before launching into a rugged guitar solo.
The performance also featured a selection of songs from his 2023 album, “I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet,” including “Doll House,” which offered a quieter, more introspective moment. Jaffe’s ability to seamlessly transition between tonal shifts – from upbeat anthems to vulnerable ballads – was a key strength of the show, creating a dynamic and emotionally resonant journey for the audience.
The energy peaked with tracks like “How To Live” and “Ghost In the Uniform,” the latter inspired by “a COVID-era fling, should’ve lasted a year / Got to half a decade later and we’re still here.” Fan favorites “NFU,” “Beach House,” and “All We Ever Do is Talk” – his second-most streamed song on Spotify with over 47 million plays – further fueled the crowd’s enthusiasm. Jaffe even invited a fan onstage to control the stage lights during one particularly energetic moment.
Adding an unexpected twist, Del Water Gap surprised the audience with a cover of One Direction’s “Steal My Girl,” before closing out the main set with “Perfume.” The night culminated with a powerful rendition of his breakthrough hit, “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat,” as Jaffe ventured into the crowd, sharing the energy with his fans until the final notes faded.
Del Water Gap’s performance at The Wiltern was a testament to his growth as an artist and his ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. The show, described as weaving together “moments of both sorrow and celebration,” offered a vibrant and romantic experience for those in attendance, solidifying his place as a rising force in the indie pop landscape.
