With this being my first show of 2026, I couldn’t have picked a better artist to kick off my year of live music. I’ve been a fan of Del Water Gap for about five years, so finally catching his headline show felt long overdue.

Going in, I already had high expectations. I’d seen Del Water Gap before, about two years ago, when he opened for Niall Horan at a large amphitheater. Even then, his stage presence proved he was more than ready to command a stage of his own.

When I arrived at The Van Buren, the Phoenix venue was already packed from front to back. Opener Hannah Jadagu captivated the entire crowd. With her dreamy vocals and airy guitar riffs, her sound fit the vibe of the tour perfectly. Her song “All My Time Is Wasted” has been looping in my head ever since her set ended.

As soon as Jadagu left the stage, a wave of anticipation swept through the crowd. With the flicker of a strobe and the first few chords of “Small Town Joan of Arc” ringing out, I knew this was going to be a special night.

As a fan, I recognized the intentional balance in his setlist. Effortlessly moving between fan favorites like “High Tops” from 2017 and newer tracks off his 2025 album Chasing the Chimera, fans sang along to each era. Hearing early songs alongside his latest releases showed just how much he’s grown as both a songwriter and performer. 

One of the most memorable moments came during his performance of “Damn,” off his newest album. A sewing machine appeared on stage, and throughout the entire song, Del Water Gap sat and hand-sewed a piece of fabric for a lucky fan in the crowd — a gesture that felt unique to him.

He closed the night with “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” from his self-titled album Del Water Gap. Every person in the venue was jumping, and the crowd left buzzing with energy long after the final note. 

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