On April 28th, I was blessed with the presence of one of my favorite bands. slow diveafter selling out Van Buren as part of their 2024 American tour.
The British band was formed in 1989 and is considered one of the most prominent artists in the shoegaze genre. The band's first two albumsOne day only” and “souvlaki,” was harshly criticized by critics.
Its third album “Pygmalion” took a different route in the group's music. The band moved away from their previous sound, preferring ambient sounds. After the album's release, Slowdive was dropped by their record label and went on hiatus for 22 years.
However, in the 2010s, their damaged reputation was repaired by critics and music lovers on the internet, giving the band the recognition it lacked after its initial releases.
I've been a Slowdive fan since I was 17 years old. While in quarantine, a friend and I were talking about new kinds of music we were discovering, and Slowdive was recommended to us. After years of being a fan and listening to the band, I subconsciously told myself that I would never see this band live in concert.
All of a sudden I'm in Van Buren and I'm watching it drab majesty Play the last track of your opening set.skin in gloves” My friends and I were eagerly waiting for the headliner to come out. Even after Drab Majesty ended, the audience didn't thin out as much as I had hoped, but we managed to get as close to the stage as possible.
As the fans screamed, Slowdive's band members left the venue one by one. Start the set with the single “”.shanty”, followed by the energetic “Star Roving” which we thought set the scene for a relaxed, calm show.
When the band playedSouvlaki Space Station”, a six-minute trance of delay guitar and reverb-heavy percussion filled the stage in white and blue colors. To my surprise, I looked around and saw people headbang to the song, despite the dreamy music.
The third song from the end is “Alison” A fan favorite. So far, the song received the most praise the moment the first chord was played. Despite the roar from the audience, the band remained humble, choosing not to speak between songs, other than singer Rachel Goswell saying a quick “thank you” after each song.
After “Alison” faded out, there was a moment of silence and darkness, with only the whispers and murmurs of the surrounding fans heard. The band started playing the song.when the sun shines” is the most streamed song on Spotify. About a minute into the track, I saw a small mosh pit open at the front of the crowd. Slowdive's is relatively gentle music, so this wasn't something I expected to see.
Only one other friend was with me at this point, the others got lost in the crowd and we took the opportunity to get to the front of the audience while the song continued to play. . After securing a large space at the front, Goswell prepared to play the band's final song.40 days”
Like “Alison” and “When the Sun Hits,” “40 Days” is also a fan favorite. Despite the dark tone and depressing lyrics, everyone around us was overjoyed to hear their favorite song. Goswell and singer/guitarist Neil Halstead also had smiles on their faces. After the song finished, the band left the venue and returned to play three more songs as an encore.
Starts with “sugar for tablets,” followed by “dagger” and the audience continued to live this wonderful moment of gratitude. The last song the band played was one of my favorite moments of the show.
Gossel began singing the band's cover of “I Love You''.golden hair” is a song by Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett. After Goswell finished her verse, she slowly walked backstage, her cloak flowing behind her. The remaining members of the band continued the rest of the song without Goswell, playing an intense build-up before a crushing breakdown, ending with the band waving to fans as they walked backstage.
Slowdive's performance was probably one of the most beautiful live sets I've ever seen, playing around with effects and sounds to see how old music could be adapted for a live audience while staying true to what fans know. I loved seeing how it translated to.
It's a rare opportunity to see older bands, especially those associated with a genre like shoegaze. Slowdive did not disappoint. I would give this show a 9/10 score.