Author: Maya Deguzman
All photo credits: Noelle Lee
On a rainy Valentine’s Day eve in Seattle, indie pop/rock artist Del Water Gap, the stage name of New York’s S. Holden Jaffe, brought his Chasing the Chimera World Tour to the Showbox SoDo.
The weather was not the only thing setting the mood. Inside the venue, the crowd was noticeably packed with fans and couples. Whether it was the date or the natural magnetism of Jaffe’s romantic, often pained lyricism, there was love and buzz in the air.
Opening the night was Hannah Jadagu (pictured below), whose “indie bedroom pop” sound felt very warm and synthy. Her set was a dreamy journey, highlighted by the R&B-infused “My Love” and a moment during “All My Time Is Wasted,” where she invited a guest in the crowd to sing the hook.
As a Sub Pop artist, she gave a sweet nod to Seattle, the label’s home base, and really went the extra mile to prime the crowd for the main act.
This was my second time seeing Del Water Gap live, and it confirms a theory of mine: Jaffe is one of those artists who sounds even better live than on the record.
The stage design was kept simple, with a massive white sheet draping over the stage, looking like a ghost or a fort. Combined with the heavy fog machine and moody lighting, it felt intimate and mysterious, almost like we were stepping into his headspace.
He kicked the show off with “Small Town Joan of Arc,” from his latest album. There is a specific confidence that this song gives you. It makes me feel like the magnetic main girl of a movie.
The energy shifted gears with “Better Than I Know Myself,” where the crowd began to ramp up the excitement. But the emotional heart of the night resided in the slower tracks such as “Eastside Girls,” a nostalgic gut punch about love, and “High Tops,” an old favorite of his discography that still hits hard.
Midway through, Jaffe took a moment to reflect. He told the crowd about his history with the Showbox SoDo, reminiscing about his days as an opener in this very room. Now returning as the headliner, he shared that the new album was born from deep reflection on loneliness, guilt, and memory. This is apparent throughout the whole project, but especially evident on tracks like “How to Live.”
The night ended on an absolute high note. During “Perfume,” the momentum peaked when Jaffe came down into the pit to join the fans. It was pure chaos in the best way possible. Being able to experience that moment with other individuals who also love the music really elevated the experience.
He closed the night with “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat.” It’s a song about lingering romantic tension. Even without an encore, the room felt full. I left satisfied, feeling like I’d seen an artist truly at his best.
Maya Deguzman | Music and Arts Reporter
Noelle Lee | Director of Videography