Del Water Gap Puts On an Energetic and Unforgettable Show at SOMA with Hannah Jagadu
On February 20th, Del Water Gap brought the “Chasing the Chimera” Tour to SOMA in San Diego, with support from Hannah Jagadu.
The night started with rising indie bedroom pop artist Hannah Jagadu. Her set was a smooth and elevating start to the night, with a thrumming base paired with electric guitar or even piano and her smooth but floaty vocals. The lo-fi, dreamy bedroom pop she brought to the stage naturally loosened up the crowd. To close, she led the crowd to sing aloud to her ethereal love song, “My Love,” and left us buzzing.
As Del Water Gap stepped on stage, the crowd was more than ready. A roar of applause filled the venue as Holden Jaffe walked out and opened with “Small Town Joan of Arc,” a standout from his newest album. It was the perfect opener, cinematic and emotionally charged, pulling the audience into Jaffe’s world.
The stage, draped in flowing white sheets and lit by flashing strobe lights and saturated colors, created a dreamy, slightly chaotic atmosphere that mirrored the emotion in his songs. Within that setting, Jaffe carried himself with the kind of presence you hope for in a headliner. There’s a natural confidence to him, paired with an emotional openness that makes even the largest room feel intimate. His music captures the rush of a first love, all encompassing and a little messy in the best way, tender yet exhilarating all at once.
Throughout the set, Jaffe repeatedly lifted the neck of his guitar and planted himself in a powerful stance, creating a strong visual gesture for the audience. It’s striking how something so simple can shape the way a performance is remembered. Those brief tableaus sharpened the crowd’s focus and gave the songs a lasting image, one that will likely stick with the audience long after the night fades.
One of the most compelling elements of the set was the contrast between old and new material. While the earlier songs were still met with enthusiasm, there was a clear shift in Jaffe’s delivery when he moved into his recent work. The newer tracks carried more fire, and he moved with greater urgency and sang with deeper conviction. It felt like watching an artist fully step into the sound that brings him most alive. There is something powerful about witnessing that evolution in real time, when an artist stops searching and begins to truly own their voice.
Beyond the music, his gratitude stood out. He took a moment to thank not just his band, but nearly everyone on tour, from lighting and sound to media and his photographer, ending with a heartfelt, “Thank you for making my dreams come true.”
Even after he left the stage, the crowd still lingered in the energy, still buzzing and dancing. It was the kind of concert that instantly hooks you, whether you walked in as a longtime fan or completely new to Del Water Gap.
