On February 27, Del Water Gap performed at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee on his Chasing the Chimera World Tour 2026.
The opener, Hannah Jadagu, was a brilliant opener and had an upbeat, interactive set. Much of the crowd was unfamiliar with many of her songs, but at the end she had the crowd moving and singing with reciprocal energy.
One of the stand out moments of her set is when she chose a random audience member, named Caleb, to sing a couple of lines from the chorus of her song, “All My Time Is Wasted”. At this moment, she presented amazing crowd control, creating a silent audience for Caleb to sing along. It was a unique and intimate experience.
The stage design stood out tremendously with massive white sheets strategically draped in a way that felt almost like a tent. When asked about the influence and inspiration of his stage design, Jaffe cited that he was inspired by the intimate setting of being with someone and wanted to see it on stage.
Del Water Gap’s set was intentional. Every song had its place and told a story. Opening with “Small Town Joan of Arc”, he continues to build a relationship with songs like “Sorry I Am”, “Better Than I Know Myself”, and “Please Follow”.
These songs allowed the thought of doubt about a relationship, the realization of yearning for closeness, and pursuing to know a partner.
Jaffe continued his set, and closed with “Perfume”, “All We Ever Do Is Talk”, and “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat”. These songs presented the intimate aspect of a relationship.
Similar to Jadagu, Jaffe presented numerous opportunities to involve fans in the show. During “Damn”, he brought out an embroidery machine and embroidered “Chasing the Chimera Nashville 2026” onto a towel and gave it to a fan. He also allowed a fan to create a lighting design during “NFU”. Almost like a tradition, his final opportunity occurred when he partook in the “Perfume Pit”. A moment where he finds the middle of the room and sings the bridge of “Perfume” with his audience.
Since writing this article, Jaffe has completed the North American leg of his tour, and has just started his European leg. If given the opportunity, I would encourage anyone looking for intentionality and great music to attend one of these shows. It truly was an immense breath of fresh air.
Del Water Gap
