BETWEEN FRIENDS: WOW! TOUR! Review - Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Photo Credits: Emma Vigiolto
There’s something special about a perfect-sized venue, big enough for the crowd to go wild but small enough to feel personal. That’s exactly how it felt at Philadelphia’s Theatre of Living Arts on October 16th, when BETWEEN FRIENDS stopped by on their WOW! TOUR!. The duo turned the night into a full-on dance party with a mix of chaos, charm, and connection that made it feel like everyone in the room was part of their world. I was one person behind the barricade (the closest I’ve ever been to the stage at a concert so far), and it made the experience even more surreal.
For anyone unfamiliar, BETWEEN FRIENDS is an LA-based alt-pop duo made up of siblings Savannah and Brandon Hudson. The duo was on Season 8 of America’s Got Talent in 2013, competing as “Savannah and Brandon,” and made it to the quarterfinals. They later formed the official group “BETWEEN FRIENDS” in 2017 and started releasing music, building a loyal fanbase through their dreamy blend of bedroom pop, electronica, and indie R&B. Known for their Y2K-like visuals and experimental sound, they’ve carved out a space that feels both nostalgic and futuristic, and their live show captured that perfectly.
The Opener: Valé
The night started with Valé, a Colombian artist I was lucky enough to see over the summer when she opened for THE DRIVER ERA. She was incredible then and somehow even better this time. Valé knows exactly how to work a crowd, effortlessly winning over even those who didn’t know her songs. At one point, she had everyone in the crowd participate by teaching us how to say “lo tengo mal,” the title of one of her songs, and showed us exactly when to shout it during the chorus. She proudly waved her Colombian flag, and you could feel how proud she was to represent her country. The energy in the room was already high, and Valé set the tone perfectly for what was coming.
The Headliner: BETWEEN FRIENDS
When Savannah and Brandon hit the stage, the crowd lost it, and rightfully so. They opened with “You & Me Time,” and from that moment, the energy didn’t let up once. Brandon, cool as ever behind his shades, bounced between mixing the music live, singing, and shredding on guitar. Savannah was absolutely mesmerizing to watch. She moved as if she were in her own universe, every gesture and glance hypnotic. Watching her perform felt like watching a siren, captivating and a little mysterious. Even though the duo didn’t physically interact with the crowd, it added to their enigmatic stage presence. The performance felt dreamlike and slightly untouchable, yet somehow still incredibly intimate.
The duo powered through fan favorites like “American Bitch,” “Smiley,” and “Redlight.” One of the most memorable moments of the night came during “JAM !,” when things seemed to go completely off the rails. Halfway through the song, the screen behind them went black, the lights cut out, and stagehands rushed them off like something had gone wrong. The crowd started cheering and chanting for them to come back, and then suddenly the screen flickered back to life. It showed Savannah and Brandon backstage: Brandon taking shots of Jack Daniel’s straight from the bottle while Savannah attempted pushups. Shortly after, they returned to the stage to restart the song, turning what looked like a mishap into a great performance bit.
That moment summed up exactly what makes BETWEEN FRIENDS so fun to see live. They don’t take themselves too seriously. They’re there to have a good time with you, not just perform for you. At one point, Brandon stopped to thank the crowd, saying how much he appreciated the energy and how nice it felt to make eye contact and connect with everyone.
BETWEEN FRIENDS’ setlist for Philadelphia, PA was as follows:
You & Me Time
BLOW
American Bitch
iloveyou
Soda
Smiley
Very Nice
Parking Lot
blushing!
1234567
comfortable
Redlight
XD
JAM ! (x2)
Chevron
Jackie
affection
Bruise
Eyes on My Baby
DJ
BETWEEN FRIENDS’ WOW! TOUR! lives up to its name. The show was playful, energetic, and full of those little moments that make live music unforgettable. The night went beyond a typical concert and felt like being transported into the duo’s strange, glittery universe. I genuinely think that this was a top-tier concert experience. The energy level stayed high and never dipped throughout, and I don’t think I’ve ever danced that much at a concert in my life. BETWEEN FRIENDS' performance was impossible to look away from, and it left the whole crowd buzzing with energy. By the end, I was already thinking about the next time I hopefully get to see them live.