Beach House Glow in the Dark LA Night

Victoria Legrand of Beach House performing at the Greek Theatre, LA by Jacob Alvarez

SECOND SOLD OUT SHOW AT GREEK PROVES BAND SHINE ON THEIR OWN TERMS

I’ve been yearning for the day I’d get to witness Baltimore-duo Beach House perform again ever since I caught them at Just Like Heaven back in 2019. Their music definitely brings me back to my time in college, so to get to photograph the set was special, so thank you to their manager Jason and the team at WE ARE for hooking me up. It also gives me joy that I’ve had the pleasure of mailing the band a few sets of Beach House figures in the past. To think some of my art is there in the studio or homes of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally; there are no words really.

My girlfriend and I arrived during the second opener’s set, Maral, and sped through the hectic traffic circus. It was odd, because according to the band’s wishes, songs one and two of their set would be skipped with no photography allowed, while songs 3-5 were the opportunities. I wasn’t sure why they wanted this, but it most likely plays into the mystique of the band. Even before their set, the LED screen behind their instruments announced a message stating for fans to hold their conversations during the show to a minimum and for to be courtesy to others around you. It also suggested that the audience not use flash photography at all during the set and to not use their flashlights at all at the show. Knowing Beach House, where band members wear all black and mostly play in the shadows, this was a no brainer.

Victoria Legrand of Beach House performing at the Greek Theatre, LA by Jacob Alvarez

There wasn’t a huge transition of the lights fading to black since most of the screens were off at this point, and they remained off for the entirety of the concert. The fans let of screams of joy as I watched Beach House make their way on stage from side view. Scally and Legrand began the opener to their latest album “Once Twice Melody” that sparkled in the night. At this moment, you already were in a trance. Just as it hooks the listener in as the album begins, it did just that at the show too. They played through “Silver Soul” and “Through Me” before it was our time to head into the photo pit. I quickly turned my camera on, and let out a “YEAH” as the band went into “Lazuli.” While I cannot prove this, I am usually singing along to the tracks I get to photograph and “Lazuli” was no exception. To finally hear Legrand gracefully croon “There’s nothing like lapis lazuli;” brought chills to my spine. Always loved that outro.

Alex Scally of Beach House performing at the Greek Theatre, LA by Jacob Alvarez

I quickly looked at what I had as that song ended, but I had no time really as longtime live drummer for the band, James Barone, began playing the intro to 7 favorite “Dark Spring.” This got the crowd excited again and it just seemed like the band wasn’t going to let up with hit after hit after hit. But more of that comes later. After “Pink Funeral” I went and checked in my camera before hopping into the pit with Paige for the remainder of the set. At Just Like Heaven, we both were hanging onto a railing with about 2000 people in front of us while Beach House played. This time, we were only behind a few fans. Needless to say, songs like “PPP” and “Take Care” were experienced in their full glory.

Victoria Legrand of Beach House performing at the Greek Theatre, LA by Jacob Alvarez

Legrand sang, “Left my heart out somewhere running / Wanting strangers to be mine.” This set of strangers were certainly hers tonight and the audience got extra happy with the idea of seeing “Drunk in LA” in LA (how meta). From here on out, the next three tracks consisted of “Myth” then “Lemon Glow” and finally “Space Song.” The band didn’t give the audience a chance to relax at all. Three heavyweights like that in a one-two-three punch. I was too busy droning out, staring at my shoes while the intro to “Lemon Grow” literally began to yank my braincells out. “Space Song” brought me back to it coming on in the car while my good friend Jaycob and I drove from a show back in 2015. It was all whirlwind (haha). It was sort of sad that the fans toward the back of the amphitheater weren’t treated to two large screens projecting the performance and had to really focus and squint towards the stage to see the magic. But the strobes and mirroring green and pink lights along with the LED screen illuminated the band as well as the night sky. The music tracked congruently with it as well, and so I believe those in the nosebleeds didn't need to see as much as they heard. The band often made remarks to the crowd, talking about how lucky they were to get to be there in the moment, performing, acknowledging how corny it sounds yet how truthful it is. Scally and Legrand ended the night with encore track “Over and Over” with Legrand singing “As all the lights go down / one by one they open.” These days go over and over but the night has no end. That’s the magic of Beach House. Check out her set list here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!