The night kicked off with an exclusive experience in the VIP section, where fans were treated to a personal touch from The Wldlfe. The band made their entrance with enthusiasm, taking individual photos with each guest, instantly creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Following this meet-and-greet, they captivated the audience with three beautifully rendered acoustic songs. Each performance was punctuated by engaging Q&A sessions, allowing fans to connect with the band on a deeper level.

During the VIP experience, The Wldlfe performed three acoustic songs: “You Don’t Love Me (Like You Used To)“, “Text Me?“, and “Write a Song About It” from their newest album, Heaven is a Place (2024). I had the opportunity to ask a few questions during the Q&A session. When I asked what they were most excited for on this tour, Carson shared that it was their first time touring with a bus instead of a van, stating, “That gets real tired real fast.” The other members noted that traveling by bus allows them to take better care of themselves and truly enjoy the journey from city to city.

After performing “Text Me?”, I asked each member to reveal their favorite song from the new album. Jansen responded, “I like ‘Sweet Tooth.’ ‘Sweet Tooth‘ live is really cool. On the record, right now ‘Sweet Tooth‘ is my favorite.” Jake chimed in, saying, “What If You Change has been my longest standing answer for that; I also really like ‘Be There.’” Carson added, “On the record, ‘Wreck My Life‘ is my favorite, or ‘Here We Go Again.’”

Later, another fan inquired if it was hard to write “Growing Up Song“. Jansen replied, “I think no, writing stuff like that is actually really easy. That one was actually really easy to write; I wrote the first verse and chorus by myself in 10 minutes. It was just the way I was feeling at the time.” The fans in the VIP section reiterated how much of an impact their music, particularly that song, has had on many people. Jansen responded with genuine appreciation, thanking us all for sharing.

After discussing the writing process for “Growing Up Song“, Jansen informed us that “Real Estate” had the longest writing process as they were all quite nitpicky about it. They started writing it back in 2021, and Carson noted that he believed the song wouldn’t have ended up sounding the way it does without their meticulous approach. We all agreed that being nitpicky was for the best, as we love how it turned out!

After the intimate VIP experience, a touching moment unfolded when a fellow fan named Abiageal approached me, offering a handmade Wldlfe bracelet adorned with the title of one of their older songs, “Lemonade“. She explained that she had never met another Wldlfe fan who appreciated “Lemonade (Growing Pains)” as much as I did and wanted me to have it. Abiageal had noticed my enthusiasm during the VIP Q&A when The Wldlfe asked us about our favorite song, and I immediately responded with “Lemonade“. This thoughtful gesture truly encapsulated the sense of community among fans that night.

Once general admission opened, the energy in the venue surged as everyone gathered, buzzing with anticipation for the headliner: Young Culture. Young Culture proved to be an excellent choice as the opener, seamlessly setting the stage for the night. Their infectious energy and engaging performance resonated with the crowd, creating an electric atmosphere that made it clear they were the perfect fit for the night’s lineup. Their set ended on a high note, leaving the audience eager for more.

As Young Culture’s performance wrapped up, the crowd lingered, exploring merch tables and enjoying the pre-show playlist, which featured a selection of Chappell Roan songs that kept spirits high. The atmosphere reached a fever pitch when “Life is a Highway” filled the venue and the lights dimmed, signaling that The Wldlfe was about to take the stage.

When The Wldlfe finally took the stage, the excitement reached a crescendo. The moment the intro to “Simple Math” played, the crowd erupted in cheers, signaling the start of an unforgettable performance. This was just the first of an impressive 21 songs on the setlist, which included three encore tracks that left fans craving more.

Following “Simple Math“, Jansen energized the crowd, exclaiming, “How we feeling Louisville, we feeling good tonight?” before launching into their second song, “Dizzy“, a standout from their newest album, Heaven is a Place (2024). The energy in the room was electric as fans sang along, fully immersed in the music. Each song flowed seamlessly into the next, showcasing The Wldlfe’s dynamic range and their connection with the audience.

As the band paused before their fourth song, Jansen took a moment to check in with the crowd, introducing the band with enthusiasm. “What’s up Louisville! We are a band called The Wldlfe, we’re from Indianapolis. Thanks so much for being here tonight! This is the second night of the tour that we just started. It’s called the A Place Where You Are tour, so we came to a place where you were! We’ve never headlined a show in Louisville, so we are really excited to be here. If it’s alright with you guys, we are just going to play as many songs from the new album as possible,” before cueing the intro to “Turtleneck“. His playful energy and humor added to the lively atmosphere of the night.

Later on in the set, after “Box” had concluded, a fan enthusiastically shouted,

“We love The Wldlfe!”

Jansen quickly responded, “Well that’s good news! I can tell! Can I have some house lights real quick so I can see all the beautiful faces looking back at me?” He continued, noting, “Here’s the thing. You guys are really smiley, and a lot of the time I feel like when people are looking back at me, they’re just plain faces. You guys are all smiling and having fun! Is it alright if I do a bit now? May I do my bit please?”

On that note, he asked someone to “bring him the big coin!” The big coin is a unique element the band created for this tour. They explained, “We have lots of songs, alright, and we are not able to play every song that we have! But you know what? We thought we would let you guys sort of choose which ones you’d like us to play. So we introduced the coin!” Each night, the coin has a new song on each side, and at the midpoint of the set, Jansen brings it out, randomly picks someone from the crowd to be in charge, and they can either choose a song themselves or spin the coin for fate to decide. The crowd was incredibly excited for the coin bit, and when the coin landed on “Good@Bad@Us”, they erupted with cheers, clearly thrilled with the choice.

As the concert neared its end, The Wldlfe created an atmosphere that allowed everyone to be present in the moment, truly bringing the crowd together. Before playing the next song, Jansen paused to express his gratitude, saying, “Thank you guys so much for being here tonight. I know I’ve said it a few times, but it really means a lot to us. We’ve been together in a band for a long time, okay? And we’ve played lots of shows for not that many people, but there is a lot of you here tonight, and that means a lot to us, so thank you guys so much”.

He then excitedly mentioned their new album, prompting cheers from the audience, saying, “The next thing I would like to say is we put out an album about a month ago.” After gauging the crowd’s reaction, he continued, “If it’s alright with you, we would love to play the title track of our album.” Jansen then sat right in front of the crowd to sing “Heaven Is a Place”, marking it as the second to last song before the encore. It was such a beautiful and unique moment to experience with that crowd, creating a sense of connection and shared emotion at that exact moment in time.

From start to finish, it was clear that The Wldlfe had crafted an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance. Their passion for music and connection with fans shone brightly throughout the evening. If you have the chance, I highly recommend seeing The Wldlfe live on this tour; their dynamic stage presence and heartfelt songs create an atmosphere that is both exhilarating and comforting. Be sure to check out their latest album, Heaven Is a Place (2024), to get a taste of the magic they bring to life on stage. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this incredible journey as they continue to touch hearts and bring people together through their music.

Setlist on Spotify