For many, Slowdive is synonymous with the shoegaze genre. Ethereal soundscapes, lush reverb, and atmospheric melodies are defining features of their songs, as are layers of distorted guitars and ambient synth. Themes of nostalgia and melancholy run through their catalog, providing a haunting yet captivating sound. The band returned to Philadelphia last Friday night, playing to a packed crowd at Franklin Music Hall.
After a riveting opening set from quannnic, the crowd was left buzzing with anticipation. Although quannnic’s music lands somewhere between shoegaze and digicore, their songs were transformed in a live setting, taking on a heavier grunge sound.
There are few better opening songs than Slowdive’s “shanty.” Soft synth notes start the song, and a drone-like buzz settles in before we hear the vocals. The live arrangement felt especially subdued, letting the tension grow gently, as the band filled the venue with their haze, as if inviting the crowd to come closer.
Slowdive | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
Throughout Slowdive’s set, the background was lit up by psychedelic projections. The projections changed with each song, sometimes resembling bubble-like formations that rippled across the backdrop, adding a fluid quality to the show. Other moments saw mesmerizing, hypnotic circles pulsing across the screen, drawing the audience’s attention and creating a visual rhythm that mirrored the flow of the music.
The show’s setlist was a great curation of Slowdive’s expansive catalog, offering a sense of continuity between past and present. Early in the show, “Catch the Breeze” reminded the audience of the band’s ability to merge intricate guitar work with dreamlike vocals, with Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell’s harmonies floating above layers of reverb and delay. Slowdive’s older catalog fit seamlessly with their new songs from last year’s album, everything is alive. Songs like “kisses” showcased their new sound, with textures and percussion that felt brighter but just as emotional as their older songs.
Slowdive | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
Although Slowdive’s music can be introspective and melancholic at times, the band’s stage presence was anything but. Between songs, Goswell and Halstead shared brief, light-hearted remarks. When not singing, Goswell made kind and direct eye contact with crowd members, smiling at the enthusiastic audience. In fact, the entire band was immersed in the performance. Bassist Nick Chaplin played with a grounded intensity in the center of the stage, while guitarist Christian Savill bounced around the left side of the stage.
One of the night’s most memorable moments came during “When the Sun Hits,” a track that has become emblematic of the band’s shoegaze legacy. The shimmering guitars and soaring vocals seemed to strike a collective chord, with the audience swaying and shaking their heads in unison, their faces illuminated by the glow of the stage. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the effect that “Sugar for the Pill” had on the crowd around me, lulling people into a cathartic trance. “Machine Gun” closed out the night, offering a serene farewell to everyone in the room.
Slowdive’s American tour continues through November, you can check out their full list of dates here. See below for the setlist and more photos from the show!