second to last show of 2023 us tour

At the three month old Bellwether venue in downtown Los Angeles, shoegaze legends Slowdive played a pair of sold out shows to an intimate audience. The two night stint came toward the end of the band’s sold out US tour, having returned to the states since 2018, in support of their latest record Everything Is Alive.

The first night brought Drab Majesty as openers while the second featured Sun Colony beginning the night. The venue has a large viewing room where guests can purchase drinks at the bar and buy merch while being away from the crowded area of the stage. The showroom itself was small in size but lovely to say the least: enough room for fans to view the bands and a wide balcony that loomed over both sides of the stage. Around 9:15PM, the lights sort of just whimpered, and Slowdive made their way on stage.

The band kicked off the set with Everything Is Alive opening track “shanty” before jumping back to 2017’s self-titled cut “Star Roving.” Over 10 photographers crowded the rather slim photo pit while fans danced around to the shoegaze tracks. Singer and guitarist Neil Halstead stood toward the right of the stage, with singer and guitarist Rachel Goswell taking the left, both enveloped with a stream of whimsical lights. Lasers scattered across the stage, illuminating the band with mere beams, while the remainder of themselves laid in the shadows.

The remainder of the set included hits “Souvlaki Space Station” and “Alison” mixed in with the band’s first single from their latest LP, “kisses.” The crowd cheered to the intro of “Sugar for the Pill” being performed, and everyone whipped out their phones to capture the beauty that was “When the Sun Hits.” Slowdive had to hurry back to their tour bus afterward for a long car ride to San Francisco the following day where they’d conclude their US tour for the year. But that didn’t stop them from coming back out for a four song encore, finishing with “40 Days” off their second and most popular album, Souvlaki. Goswell and a few of the crew greeted fans with photo ops and autographs, with Goswell in particular demonstrating a never ending smile of endearment. The band remain icons in the music community, specifically the type that makes listeners drone out while clocking their sneakers.

From the hauntingly deeper sounds of Halstead’s aged voice, to the ambient works of Goswell and co., Slowdive reveled in the audience of the night, transforming fans’ eyes into stars which could only be seen during the event, and which are diluted on the exit of the venue by LA’s renowned light pollution. Check out the setlist here!