On Sunday, September 27th, fans of the iconic dream-pop duo Beach House gathered eagerly at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for a night of music that they will never forget. The show marked the band’s long-awaited return to Nashville, more than 10 years after their last performance in the city. Beach House played to a sold-out Brooklyn Bowl crowd, making it a perfect welcome-back night for the band. With the arrival of the 20th anniversary of their debut self-titled album, this show highlighted the longevity of Beach House’s music, as the band played a variety of old favorites and newer hits. As the dark haze that filled the stage slowly lifted and the moody, atmospheric lighting came up, fans welcomed singer and keyboardist Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally with open arms and loud cheers.
With the addition of drummer James Barone, the band began the night with “Levitation”, which was an especially fitting entrance. The ethereal mood of this opening track was spellbinding, effortlessly capturing the audience in a dreamlike state that would last throughout the nearly two-hour set. “Walk in the Park” from the album Teen Dream and “Sparks” from the album Depression Cherry were standouts, as Scally’s mesmerising guitar melodies cut through the layers of Legrand’s nostalgic keyboard and vocals, with Barone’s focused drums becoming the heartbeat of the crowd. Fans were surprised and excited to hear these songs, as they have not been performed by the band in quite some time. “PPP” and “Lemon Glow” were also especially immersive, captivating the audience with mellow riffs and addictive vocals that made the crowd stop in their tracks and lose themselves to the music. The band then played the instantly recognizable “Space Song”, and the crowd surrendered to the sweet nostalgia of the tune.
There was more swaying, watching, and listening intently than dancing, which was a nice change for the usually rowdy Brooklyn Bowl. Legrand’s brief comments of gratitude towards the audience between songs showed that she too appreciated the intense focus of the crowd, and added warmth to the performance. The encore consisted of “Rough Song” and “Myth”, two crowd favorites that the audience clearly enjoyed through their loud cheers. Because of Beach House, Nashville was transformed into a nostalgic dream for a couple of hours, where the audience could hang somewhere between the present and a memory, creating an experience that was unforgettable.
-Emily Duncko
Photos Courtesy of Emily Duncko (For Bell Music Magazine)
