Wallice brings angst and whimsy to Chicago as she tours her debut album ‘The Jester’
chicago, Illinois - february 10th, 2025
The minute you walked into Subterranean, you knew you would be in for a treat. The small but charming stage was decorated with red and white striped flags and countless instruments and guitars sparkled under the gold and magenta lights. As a circus theme song played, Wallice and her bandmates descended the spiral stairs and emerged in the spotlight to enthusiastic and eager cheers and applause. Chloe Arnow on drums walked down first, her steps matching the beat of the circus theme and her bright red hair glowing like fire in the stage lights. Mikey LaSusa on keys and bass and Callaghan Kevany on guitar and trumpet followed, dressed in matching white dress shirts adorned with red embroidery. Wallice rounded out the “circus” troupe in a colorful plaid blazer and her signature clown makeup which featured exaggerated eyelashes and sparkly light green eyeshadow. Her warm smile lit up the room as she waved and introduced herself.
Ironically, the first song in the set was not “The Opener,” but “Curtains to Close,” the final song on Wallice’s debut album, The Jester, released late last year. The instrumentals slowly faded in as Wallice’s ethereal yet sassy vocals filled the room. The relaxed drum and guitar rhythm rocked back and forth as the song effortlessly faded into “Clown Like Me” and Wallice swung her cherry red guitar over her shoulder. As the groovy intro built in intensity, Wallice’s vocals grew more passionate and by the time the angry chorus hit, her vocals and the instrumentals were splashing and vibrant as everyone on stage let loose.
The set continued with “The Hardest Working Man Alive,” a quick and groovy track that allows everyone to unleash their angst and frustration in the explosive chorus. Arnow’s drumming in the chorus was fierce and passionate and Wallice, LaSusa, and Kevany rocked out with their guitars, often swaying energetically to the beat. As the song faded into “Loser at Best,” the set grew more mellow, but the audience was still left with a taste of the angst that Wallice had brought to the stage in the opening tracks. The intense performance featured a sizzling electric guitar solo from Kevany that melted perfectly with fearless bass and drum instrumentals.
The Jester cover photography by Monika Oliver @monika_oliver
“Boring” began with a stripped-back guitar intro from Wallice as her nostalgic vocals echoed around the room. Sultry drums and a grungy bass and guitar rhythm faded into the chorus as Wallice sang with longing and burning desire: “But I'm coming back to you/Nothing else I'd rather do/I’m not looking for change/Not playing chaotic games/I need the boring mundane/So I'm coming back to you/Nothing else I'd rather do.” The excitement in the audience was palpable as LaSusa played a sweet rhythm on keys and Wallice started singing “Hey Michael.” The audience sang along with Wallice as she smiled at fans in the front row and even directed certain lyrics at audience members.
Audience participation didn’t end there as the eerie and seductive intro to “Manipulate” began to play. Arnow charged the chorus with an aggressive and magnetic drumming performance. The chemistry between Wallice, LaSusa, and Kevany was perfection as they rocked out together, their guitars swinging and twinkling under the lights as they stepped closer to the edge of the stage. “Best Friend” was the perfect song to follow “Manipulate” as the intro carried a mysterious undertone and the instrumentals were more laid back, reminiscent of a 90s indie-grunge band. The opening track from Wallice’s EP Mr. Big Shot released in 2023, the song was the perfect example of how Wallice has evolved as an artist but has also stayed true to her distinct sound and vision.
photography by Monika Oliver @monika_oliver
A mellow drum beat continued the set and Wallice began to sing “Deadbeat” with equally mellow vocals. String instrumentals rounded out the nostalgic and whimsical chorus as guitar and drums built slowly to a swaying outro. Wallice danced around the stage with ballet-like movements like a fairy flying and floating in the wind, letting the music consume her completely. After “missing” her entrance to “Hurry Babe” and jokingly asking the audience if anyone knew the first line, Wallice started singing along with the romantic and warm bass and guitar rhythm: “You said ‘Why are you in such a hurry, babe?’/You can take my time, baby, wanna spend it with you/You can take my time, baby, wanna spend it with you.”
The set continued down a more nostalgic rabbit hole as Wallice introduced “Punching Bag,” the first song she released as an artist in 2020. With yearning lyrics and a groovy instrumental rhythm, the song gave the audience a taste of Wallice’searly vintage-inspired sound. Fans sang along, joining Wallice in reminiscing about her career and artistic growth. “23,” one of Wallice’s most well-known tracks, followed, and the audience’s excitement reached new heights. Wallice delivered an upbeat performance that balanced angsty instrumentals and vocals with nostalgic lyrics: “And I just can't wait to be/All grown up and twenty-three/And tell me what is wrong with me/I miss my Ohio fake ID/Maybe I'll get married soon/And buy a house with three bedrooms/And settle down and get a dog/And make my partner get a job.” Kevany’s electric guitar rhythm was addictive and bittersweet while LaSusa and Arnow gave the performance a thumping heartbeat with energetic bass and drum instrumentals.
Wallice continued with another track off her debut EP Off the Rails released in 2021. This time, the title track “Off the Rails” brought everyone together more than ever as the chemistry between Wallice and her bandmates and their shared love for music was clearly on display. As the instrumentals grew stronger and Wallice delivered powerful vocals, everyone on stage smiled at one another.
The set took a more upbeat turn with “Gut Punch Love” off of Wallice’s debut album The Jester. The intro was slow and a bit deceiving because as the song continued, the drums grew more punchy and Wallice’s ethereal vocals contrasted the grungy instrumentals. Arnow delivered one of the best drum outros of the entire set as the track concluded with a bang and the audience cheered. The momentum continued with “Funeral.” No doubt a fan favorite as Wallice encouraged everyone to dance with her as the lyrics told us to: “'Cause we're dancing at my funeral/I wanna rock and roll/When my body leaves my soul/The crowd's gonna lose control.” Fans did just that as everyone grew more bold with their dance moves as the song continued. Wallice’s performance of “Funeral” took all the elements of the original recording and dialed everything up a notch or two. Her vocals were wild and the instrumentals were vibrant and relentless.
To cleanse the palette and prepare for the final few songs of the night, Wallice continued with “Look At Me,” a track that demanded everyone’s attention and felt like Wallice was inviting the audience to share their secrets. Wallice’s vocals had room to shine as the instrumentals remained more laid back and the audience whispered the chorus back to her, creating an eerie yet comforting haze around the room. “I Want You Yesterday” featured quirky piano and bass instrumentals as Wallice’s vocals were reminiscent of a quaint lullaby. Wallice stepped up to the keyboard to close out the song.
photography by Nicole Busch @nicolebusch
Before introducing the next song, Wallice took a moment to thank the audience for listening to her debut album and for supporting her as an artist. She slowly began to strum her guitar as she reminisced about the countless times she had opened for other artists. LaSusa, Kevany, and Arnow took a back seat at first as the spotlight focused on Wallice as she sang “The Opener.” A melancholic and nostalgic track, tears welled in Wallice’s eyes as she sang and LaSusa, Kevany, and Arnow slowly took their positions and the instrumentals built to a powerful and sentimental outro.
“The Opener” Official Video directed by Vanessa Pla
“Flash In The Pan” marked the penultimate song of the night and featured Kevany on the trumpet. The trumpet instrumental gave the performance a quirky yet touching energy that blended with Wallice’s more relaxed vocals. Before the final song, Wallice once again thanked the audience for coming out and reiterated that she did not believe in an encore. “Heaven Has To Happen” faded in with dainty instrumentals and wistful vocals before settling into a deeper and more groovy melody. The song built to a powerful conclusion with a whimsical bridge as Wallice unveiled her clarinet and began to play as the audience cheered louder than ever.
Whether you are a long-time fan of Wallice or she is new to you, she puts on a live show that any music lover would enjoy. She is genuine and completely herself. Her passion for music and songwriting is clear and she welcomes her audience with an open heart. Make sure to catch Wallice live before her tour concludes on February 21st and give her debut album a listen!
