Live Review: Del Water Gap + Hannah Jadagu @ Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta - February 28th 2026

18 minutes ago
3 min read

Singer passionately performs on stage with a mic. Wearing a plaid blazer and white top. Purple lit background enhances the energetic mood. — Del Water Gap photo by Anna Daugherty

A sold-out crowd on a closing night carries an electric energy. S. Holden Jaffe, the indie-pop artist better known as Del Water Gap, packed out Buckhead Theatre for the final stop of his Chasing The Chimera tour, drawing front-row superfans who traveled across state lines and waited all day for the milestone.

The evening opened with Hannah Jadagu, whose honey-like vocals, honest lyrics, mellow guitar playing created a lush, melodic soundscape. Backed by drummer Jacob and guitarist Garrett, Jadagu’s set was a perfect tonal bridge to Jaffe’s moody aesthetic. She had a magnetic presence, evoking a sea of phone lights from the crowd and effortlessly teaching the chorus of one of her songs. During her penultimate track, “All My Time Is Wasted,” she invited a brave fan named Lexington to sing the chorus with the mic. After, she then encouraged audience to sing like them, turning the room into a unified choir of voices.

Musician with long braided hair plays electric guitar against a dark background, wearing a red sweater, focused and immersed in music. — Hannah Jadagu photo by Anna Daugherty

When Jaffe finally took the stage, the atmosphere shifted into something sultry and cinematic. Thick fog swallowed the stage, leaving only silhouettes as they launched into the fan-favorite “Small Town Joan of Arc.” The energy continued as the audience danced and jumped to the bridge of “Sorry I Am.” The crowd was loud, with even people in the back singing along.

When the set got to “NFU,” Jaffe got the audience even more involved by giving a clicker to an audience member, Bella, and each time she clicked, the color of the lighting would change. Most every beat had a new color of the rainbow lighting up the foggy stage, creating a very unique experience.

The show had plenty of ebbs and flow, from more low-key, emotional songs to songs where the audience was bouncing and shouting, like they did for “Beach House.” Jaffe also took a moment to reflect on his journey, recalling his first Atlanta show at Smith’s Olde Bar and thanking the crowd for making this his most successful tour to date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5tVCAWXiwk

Del Water Gap - Marigolds

The third act leaned into a sense of increased chaos. After the much-anticipated surprise song, “Never Speak Again,” the energy spiked with “Glitter & Honey.” An inflated horse appeared on stage, as a nod to Jaffe’s "Horse With Bowl Cut" drawing that has become Del Water Gap’s recurring motif that appears on merch, setlists, and even on a pink neon sign hung in the venue. Jaffe also brought out a sewing machine to embroider an item during “Damn,” tossing it to the crowd at the end of the song. After, he descended into the audience during “Perfume” to fuel the frenzy.

The finale, “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat,” featured Jadagu returning to dance and a life-size cardboard cutout of Jaffe brought out on stage. As the show came to a close, Jaffe tossed his setlists, the cutout, and the inflatable horse into the crowd, ending on a fever-pitch high note. While the tour technically has one more date, rescheduled due to weather, this show was the perfect closing night to the US leg of the tour.

Catch Del Water Gap on the Chasing The Chimera World Tour abroad through early April. Tickets here.