I don’t think I would’ve predicted in 1993 that Slowdive would not only still be going but also the biggest shoegaze band of our current time, and most influential as far as the new crop of hazy guitar-slingers. Most importantly, Slowdive are better now than they were then. I thought this last year when I saw them at Webster Hall, even moreso when I caught them at Øya Festival in August, and these points were even more evident on Monday night at the band’s first of two shows at Brooklyn Paramount. They were phenomenal.
Walking out to Eno’s “Deep Blue Day,” Slowdive opened with “Avalyn” from their debut EP and from there knocked everyone out with a set that was as big and beautiful as it was loud. Brooklyn Paramount may not be sonically right for every band (though I haven’t been to a bad-sounding show there) but it felt custom built for Slowdive, and their echoing, delay-and-reverb-soaked music filled every inch of the room. I squeezed my way near the front for a few songs, but I much preferred the acoustics in the back where the floor sloped up. To me, Slowdive are a band where you want to take it all in, let it all wash over you.
The setlist was a nice survey of everything Slowdive has done, with 1993’s classic Souvlaki being favored the most (five songs) and last year’s fantastic everything is alive getting four, plus some deep cuts like “Avalyn” and Pygmalion’s “Crazy for You” to go along with “When the Sun Hits,” “Allison,” “kisses,” “Sugar for the Pill” and “Catch the Breeze.” Drummer Simon Scott couldn’t make this tour and was missed, but his fill-in, Nicholas Willes from Rachel Goswell’s other band, Minor Victories, did a great job. Everyone brought their blissed-out A-game, and Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead’s voices remain a perfect compliment to each other. Visuals were simple but effective and appropriately trippy, and when Slowdive got noisy and very loud, the crowd was blasted with strobes and fast-motion images that felt like we’d all jumped to light speed.
Brooklyn Paramount was as packed as I’ve seen it, and the age range went from people in their ’60s down to people who could be their grandchildren, and the young may have outnumbered the old. I’m not sure any of Slowdive contemporaries could say the same. (Maybe My Bloody Valentine, though they haven’t played live since 2018.) It’s nice to see the band thriving in their unexpectedly popular second act, getting the credit they deserve, and sounding better than ever.
Photos from the show, including post-rock-y openers Quannnic (who I missed), by Toby Tenenbaum are in this post.
Slowdive and Quannic play Brooklyn Paramount again tonight and you should go. Tickets are still available. They’ve also just announced they’ll be back in early 2025.
SETLIST: Slowdive at Brooklyn Paramount 11/18/2024
Avalyn
shanty
Star Roving
Catch the Breeze
No Longer Making Time
Crazy for You
Souvlaki Space Station
chained to a cloud
Sugar for the Pill
kisses
Alison
When the Sun Hits
Golden Hair
Encore:
alife
Dagger
Machine Gun