X Ambassadors Turn the Wiltern Theatre Into a Storytelling Stage on Their VHS(X) North American Tour

Friday night at The Wiltern felt electric the second I walked up under that glowing art deco marquee. LA showed up big time for the ‘VHS(X)’ Tour — the line wrapped down the block, fans buzzing, snapping selfies, swapping stories about their favorite songs. Inside, the place was already alive, drinks in hand, everyone restless and ready. You could just feel it — this wasn’t going to be an ordinary night.

Delacey opened things up, and wow… what a way to set the mood. She has this voice that’s equal parts fragile and defiant, and it just hung in the air like it belonged to the theatre. When she sang “Boy With the Blues,” the crowd got so quiet you could almost hear hearts breaking in unison. Then “Chapel” slowed everything down even more — dim lights, her voice soft but piercing, everyone leaning in like we were being let in on a secret. “Too Much to Ask” hit raw, just her and an instrument, and you could feel people around me whispering lyrics under their breath.

But she didn’t just keep it heavy — “The Subway Song” had this pulse that made people sway, and “Breakup Sex” brought out smirks, nods, even some laughter between couples who clearly knew the feeling too well. She closed with “Dream It Possible,” and suddenly The Wiltern was lit up with phones, the whole room glowing like stars. It didn’t feel like an opener — it felt like she’d written the prologue to the night’s story.

X Ambassadors’ VHS(X) North American Tour

And then… the stage went dark, lights pulsed red and blue, and X Ambassadors stormed in with “Jungle.” The place erupted. Sam Harris came out like a lightning bolt — moving, shouting, pouring every ounce of energy into the mic. Casey Harris’s keys gave everything that big cinematic sweep, and Adam Levin’s drums? Straight fire, shaking the whole theatre. The crowd was instantly locked in, fists in the air, feet stomping, like the building itself was alive.

Songs like “Low Life” and “Fear” had this raw, edgy power — people around me were shouting the words, arms thrown around their friends, bouncing like they couldn’t stop themselves. Then “Nervous” and “Feather” came in softer, pulling us all down into this emotional hush. You could feel everyone hanging on each note, almost holding their breath.

But nothing — and I mean nothing — hit like “Unsteady” off ‘VHS’. The second it started, phones went up, lights flickered like a sky full of stars, and the entire theatre sang every single word back. It was one of those goosebumps moments where you realize: everyone here has lived this song in their own way. It didn’t feel like a performance — it felt like a collective release.

And just when you thought the night couldn’t peak any higher, “Renegades” kicked in. The crowd went nuts — clapping, shouting, the kind of energy that rattles the rafters. They even threw in “Home” (with Machine Gun Kelly and Bebe Rexha), blending their alt-rock grit with hip-hop vibes, and it totally worked.

The band never let up — Sam cracking smiles and connecting with the crowd, Casey lost in his keys under flashing lights, Adam driving everything forward with pinpoint intensity. When “Superpower” hit near the end, the whole floor was moving as one, people leaning on each other, screaming every lyric. Greens and purples strobed across the stage, and it honestly felt like the theatre might lift off the ground.

They closed with a run that left us all wrecked and happy — “HEY CHILD” exploding with raw force, “Follow the Sound of My Voice” giving everyone a pause to catch their breath, and “Unconsolable” tying it all back to that emotional core. By the time it ended, we were drenched in sweat, hoarse from yelling, and still begging for more.

The contrast between Delacey’s vulnerable, intimate set and X Ambassadors’ massive, anthemic blowout made the night feel like a journey. From delicate piano notes to thunderous choruses, The Wiltern didn’t just host a concert — it became a living, breathing story. Walking out into the LA night, it was obvious: this wasn’t just another tour stop. It was one of those nights you carry with you, long after the lights go down.