Beach House @ the Bluebird Theater

The night Beach House was to play the Bluebird Theater, the stage was decorated like a prom gymnasium in a David Lynch film: fluttery streamers and papier-mâché diamonds, all glinting lazily against a stark black backdrop with hints of vintage blue-white reflective light. Beautiful, and eerie. The spotlights, changing from silver to purple to neon green, never hit Beach House’s Victoria Legrand or Alex Scally straight in the face but only lit up the diamonds, increasing the mystery and ruining all press photo opportunities. [editor's note: scroll to the end to see that not all the photo's were ruined.]

But it matched their aesthetic, and I appreciated that. A live show is more than just running through the album. It’s putting a visual bent on what you’re creating, and connecting with the people who’ve pored over your albums so many times.

Victoria’s voice was powerful live, rich and husky. My coworker questioned whether Beach House’s narcotic dream-pop would translate well to a live venue, or if it would put people to sleep. Since they added a live drummer, the effect is not drowsy-ing at all but just powerfully enchanting, in a very, very exciting way.

My favorite moments were “10 Mile Stereo,” which seems to pack in a lifetime supply of longing in a few simple elements; “Lover of Mine” was perfectly dark, bathed in red lights; the woozy chords of ”Norway” transfixed and the intro was energetic and exciting; “Silver Soul” is just such a gorgeous song. Jesus.

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The band spoke little, but when they did, they uttered sweet nothings to the smitten crowd about what a great “sway pit” they had going on up front, and how wonderful a crowd we were. It felt like everyone had taken vicodin-ecstasy cocktails… in the best way. Victoria and Alex, while mostly serene onstage, still rocked out at choice moments, Victoria’s gorgeous tangles of hair flying in all directions. This band has a gift of forging intimacy with the crowd not through gimmicks, or even anecdotes, but by breathing life into their already beautiful body of work. It was easily my favorite show of the past year, if not ever ever forevers. I want to marry this moment. I love Beach House. I love them. A lot.

PS – Beach House forever