Del Water Gap Comes Home to New Haven
Del Water Gap took the stage at College Street Music Hall in the lead Samuel's birth state of Connecticut to round out the American leg of his Chasing the Chimera World Tour on March 4, 2026.
Having risen to fame in 2020 after the release of his popular track "Ode to the Song Stuck in Your Throat," the artist quickly made a name for himself, with a distinct voice that captures love, longing, and everything in between. With the inception of the project, he not only came after studying in music school at Berklee but also was in a band where he did not sing.
The concert night came after a rescheduled date due to a snowstorm that swept the state; despite this initial hiccup, the new date went off without a hitch.
But before Del Water Gap took the stage, Leyla Ebrahimi and her band electrified the room. Opening with tracks including “Say How You Feel" and “I’m Too Pretty for This," what became immediately apparent was the ability to show vulnerability through both softness and rage.
This openness that is shown to the crowd is no coincidence, as the artist is known for including elements of her family life, like snippets from dinners with family to Farsi that is spoken as a Persian-American family, into the natural breathing life of her music.
The emotional side is just one layer to the immersive experience that Leyla allows the listener to step into, as Ebrahimi’s vocals dip the line between longing and frustration in a way that feels effortless and flowing, causing the room to scream along with her by the end of a song, thrashing their bodies along to the rhythm without much need for introduction.
This performance allowed for the crowd to open themselves to the experience of giving way to the sounds that night, finding themselves lost in the strobes happily.
What was also clear was the band's dedication to the crowd, as it had been the largest show they had played to date. Moments of pure awe got wrapped up in the moment between songs, allowing for connection even between the crowd and stage.
By the time the band finished with their track “Planet You Forgot Me," the dedication to exploring all sides of emotion hit a peak as the anger bellowed out openly through the track, but what followed would be even more special as members of the audience became enthralled with the band's presence. Hungry for setlists and more information, even after the performance being the first introduction to the magic of Ebrahimi.
The set acted as a perfect prelude to Del Water Gap taking the stage, as there is a similar dedication to the vulnerability and connection to the roots of where these artists have come from.
Samuel shared a story of being born in the very city that he was performing in that night, after his mother had the pullover on the road and made her way to Yale New Haven Hospital. It was a moment where people were able to express their pride for the state and also come full circle with the artist as he was finishing out the American leg.
This performance in particular was not only made special by the energy in the crowd, which was very receptive to the band and the journey that they take you on, but also the way that the performance added personal touches to make the night Including moments like sewing fabric that's thrown out to the crowd as a keepsake and at one point allowing a member of the crowd to do some of the lighting work for the stage.
This interaction in combination with the magnetic performances allowed for a perfect storm of an unforgettable night for fans that truly love the band. One of the most striking performances was the title track for the tour, “Eastside Girls” As the performer sat for the song close to the stage, something about that track truly bellowed out.
Photo Credits: Alivia Stonier
Photo Credits: Alivia Stonier
Photo Credits: Alivia Stonier
Of course they played hits including "All We Ever Do Is Talk,” “Doll House," and “Better Than I Know Myself.” Allowing for a taste of the discography that has helped to popularize the group, well, of course, also playing fan favorites and deep cuts that resonate. With such a wide setlist that encapsulates the entire progression of the artist, it really allows for an introduction to the artist for those who might be unfamiliar while being a mesmerizing night for those who have been following the group for longer.
Samuel made the interactions with the crowd even more special as he began to step into the crowd and dance around with them in the pit. Allowing for even more connection and energy to follow for the closing songs. What also made this special was the way that the camera operation allowed for the audience to become part of the performance as they were projecting on stage, which truly made both the listener and performer a unit for the night.
For those interested in catching the show, it's not too late across the pond with the UK performances that are soon to come and continuing in the spring.
