I have been a fan of singer-songwriter Beabadoobee’s music since high school, and I have always loved the way she blends the soft, dreamy sounds of indie pop with the grungy guitar riffs of alternative rock. I remember listening to “10:36” from Beatopia for the first time and gradually diving deeper into her music. Whether I was listening to “Pictures of us” while I journaled in my candle-lit, quiet bedroom, crushing piles of fallen leaves with my boots as I walked home listening to “Apple Cider,” or singing along to “The Perfect Pair” while I drove aimlessly around town, her songs always seemed to mirror the moment I was in. When I found out Beabadoobee was going on tour after releasing her latest album, Pylon, I knew I wanted to get tickets.
When my friends and I arrived at TD Garden in Boston, I was bursting with excitement. As her opening act, Wisp, performed, I could hear the bubbling voices and the ecstatic screams of fans scattered all throughout the venue. Standing inside the enormous arena, surrounded by the booming guitars and thousands of people, I felt tiny in comparison. There was an energy in the crowd that made the anticipation almost as exciting as the performance itself.
The Visuals of the show
When Beabadoobee came out, the visuals shifted to compliment the theme of Pylon. The stage glowed in shades of mint green, beige and pale blue, while a pylon stood on stage with power lines connecting throughout the venue. Throughout the show, the lines would gleam red and spark, matching the aesthetic of her album. Backdrops portrayed vibrant green fields, vivid sunsets and gradients of soft blues and golden yellows. The visuals made the concert feel like stepping directly into the world of her music.
One of my favorite performances of the night was “Pictures of us,” a song eliciting nostalgia with every note. As she played this song, the power lines glowed orange, bathing the auditorium in golden light. A sunset filled the backdrop, complementing the song’s soft, airy sound. The music, lighting and atmosphere came so perfectly together that I wanted to pause to take it all in.
Singing along
I also appreciated the contrast between her quieter songs and her more energetic performances. Songs like “Coffee” were performed acoustically, allowing her vocals to carry, while most of the set featured a live band that brought out the heavier alternative-rock elements of her music. I enjoyed the way some of her songs exuded a peaceful, light sound while others screamed with strong guitar riffs and blaring visuals.
By the end of the performance, I had sung along as she played many of my favorite songs, and I honestly could not pick a single favorite performance. The entire crowd sang along to her biggest hits, such as “The Perfect Pair” and “Glue Song.” Hearing songs I had spent years listening to through my headphones was a completely different experience. The songs felt louder, fuller and more immediate, and the arrangements gave them a new energy without losing what made me love them in the first place.
The concert was definitely one of my favorites, and I really liked her set list. While containing many songs from Pylon, she included lots of her old songs and many of my favorite songs from her. Although I have always appreciated her music, this concert strengthened my recognition for her. Her soft pitched vocals perfectly matched her songs, and the band perfectly emulated the brash alt-rock sound. The production brought everything together without overshadowing the music itself.
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