Del Water Gap Captivates Audience On His Last Night Of Tour With Alluring Set
Written by: Tallulah Totten
Revised by Eli Nava
Photo by Tallulah Totten
On November 17th, singer/songwriter Del Water Gap took the stage to play his sold out headline show at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. The night began with a melodic set by Kristianne. The singer previously opened for Del Water Gap before at the Troubadour on his 2021 winter tour. She notably performed her latest single “Sleep Through the Fire,” amongst other unreleased songs before wowing the crowd with her cover of “Video Games” by Lana Del Rey. She wrapped up her set with the song “Wish I Could Be Your Girl,” not long after expressing her gratitude for this tour and the people that made it all possible. Once Kristianne left the stage, the anticipation for Del Water Gap began.
Del Water Gap (real name Holden Jaffe) has been touring almost non-stop since the release of his 2021, debut self-titled album, Del Water Gap. Opening for artists Jeremy Zucker, girl in red, Arlo Parks and Maggie Rogers, he has compiled his own audience of adoring, devoted fans–somehow also finding the time to complete two headline tours.
Finding time amidst his grueling tour schedule to work on his second album, I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet was released September 30th. Lead single “All We Ever Do Is Talk” served as a refresher of Jaffe’s big, alt-pop sound and electric energy. The second single to be released, “Coping on Unemployment,” was an upbeat, brutally honest screenshot of some of Jaffe’s darker thoughts and snapshots of moments he faced while constantly touring and simultaneously creating the album. This theme was the focal point of song “Quilt of Steam,” featuring Arlo Parks.The song discusses creative burnout and rediscovering a balance, which is something that Jaffe has remained honest and open about throughout his last two full years of touring.
Jaffe built his way up to the Fonda, climbing venue sizes within a matter of a couple years. In fact, his show at the Fonda was nearly double the capacity of that of the El Rey—which he played only a year prior on the tour for his first album in June of 2022. Perhaps the most impressive feat isn’t unlocking bigger venues, but putting on an enticing, energetic live show every night.
Photo by Tallulah Totten
With the intro of “NFU” rolling and the anticipation of a thousand plus eager fans, Jaffe fed off the energy of the crowd as he took the stage in black hooded mesh, a testament of the artist’s purposeful sense of style. A style he has long developed, earning him nights being dressed by designer brands such as Thome Brown and YSL. Gliding side to side and interacting with fans it was clear how much this show meant to him. His setlist consisted of older songs off his EP’s for his day one fans and his newest hits that everyone enjoyed. Midway through his set, Jaffe made sure to express his overwhelming gratitude towards his crew, naming them all and thanking them personally. His deep appreciation for the night filled the venue as he continued with high-energy songs.
Transitioning from song “Beach House,” into “Perfume,” into “All We Ever Do Is Talk,” he left almost no time for fans to catch their breath before immediately breaking out into excitement and dance. About halfway through performing “Perfume,” Jaffe got down from the stage and into the pit with his fans. Moshing to the final moments of the song before joining his band back onstage and leaving stage.
The encore consisted of the heartwrenching “We Will Never Be Like Anybody Else” and common favorite “Ode To A Conversation Stuck In Your Throat.” He was sure to close out the night with a bang.
Listen to his new album I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet here