An 18-year-old deep cut from a debut album goes viral on TikTok and earns its creators their first Billboard Hot 100 hit, nearly two decades after its release. That’s the story that brought She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward) back to the road in 2026 for their ‘Pump Up the Volumes Tour,’ and Wednesday night at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston showed that the band couldn’t be happier to be back on stage performing together.
The Wilbur is a no-phones, no-recording, no-talking venue, which sounds like a restriction until you’re inside one and realize how different a room feels when everyone is at full attention. For She & Him, a duo whose music is rooted in warmth and vintage charm, it was the perfect setting. The intimacy of the space made the whole evening feel like a jazz lounge that had been specifically designed for the occasion.
Jordana opened the night with just herself and a drummer, adding her own violin playing to the mix in a way that felt like a natural pairing for She & Him’s vintage-influenced aesthetic. The pairing felt intentional, especially when She & Him walked out during her opening set to perform a song together, Deschanel and Jordana in matching green sweaters, one of those unannounced moments that rewards the people who show up early.
I first heard She & Him in college when Volume Two came out. Seeing them perform in 2026, still clearly enjoying themselves, still sounding exactly like themselves comes with a warm sense of nostalgia. The setlist leaned heavily on the early material and everybody in the room seemed to appreciate the commitment to their roots.. “Thieves” and “I’ve Got Your Number, Son” opened things before Boston local Keith Hollis, previous band member, joined on piano for “I Was Made for You” and “Don’t Look Back,” a local special touch that everyone appreciated.
The set moved through different band configurations throughout the evening. The acoustic stretch in the middle, just Deschanel and Ward, included two covers and a tour debut of “Would You Like to Take a Walk?” It was the quietest and most intimate stretch of the night, the Miracles cover “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” was felt perfect mixed in.
“I Thought I Saw Your Face Today,” the 18-year-old deep cut that went viral on TikTok earlier this year and became their first Billboard Hot 100 hit, arrived late in the set but was a big crowd favorite for fans both old and new.
The evening’s best stretch came when Jordana returned to close out the main set. “Never Wanted Your Love,” “I Could’ve Been Your Girl,” and “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” the last of which had Deschanel on bass guitar, shifted the room from cozy into something more danceable, a warm sendoff that had people dancing, at least in their seats, before the encore. “Sweet Darlin'” and a duet cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” closed the night.
She & Him have been quiet for four years, but it looks like they couldn’t be happier to be on stage, and their fans couldn’t be happier to see that.
Get your ticket to see She & Him live here.
Nathan Smith is a Providence-based music photographer and journalist focusing on capturing the special moments and unfiltered magic of live performances. Whether he’s shooting established artists at sold-out TD Garden shows or documenting the rise of emerging local bands, his goal is the same: to pull viewers directly into the heart of the moment.
His writing spotlights rising artists and local scenes, with a focus on telling the stories that often get overlooked. A lifelong music fan and musician himself, Nathan approaches interviews and portraits as conversations rather than transactions, building trust with artists so their genuine personalities can shine through. Whether he’s backstage, in the photo pit, or at home in front of the keyboard, he brings the same curiosity and care to every assignment.
Outside of his press work with Juice Box Press, Nathan works regularly as a photographer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as numerous bands in the Boston and Providence area. Nathan also plays violin with a local orchestra, follows Celtics basketball almost religiously, and is an avid fantasy reader.