Concert Review: Slowdive in Columbus
Review & Photos by Jack Foley
Slowdive at KEMBA Live! in Columbus, OH 11/28
Shoegaze is a genre that tends to get a few head tilts when you talk about it around others. The genre is aptly named for the sight of performers seemingly gazing at their shoes due to the number of effect pedals used to crate a rich, spacey, psychedelic sound coated in fuzz, reverb, and topped with droning synthesizers. Slowdive is arguably one of the most archetypical shoegaze bands, and we were fortunate to have them in Columbus, OH for their first performance in the city, supporting their recent release “Everything is Alive.” I expected to see a crowd that was more mixed age-wise, but the 18-25 demographic comprised 90% of attendees. Slowdive has been around since the beginning of the 1990s, and their popularity has surged in recent years because of their timeless sound and trending songs on social media platforms. Slowdive has a sound unlike any act of similar caliber. The band manages to occupy the entire spectrum of human hearing and produce one of the fullest sounds I have ever heard, and their live performances are much the same. Their translation of studio wall-of-sound recordings to a five-piece stage act is not an easy feat, and certainly required shoegazing.
The opener, Quannnic, had a heavier sound more reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine, with the vocal timbre of Gavin Rossdale of the band Bush. It is easy to tell that they are influenced by genres such as post-punk, emo, and of course shoegaze, wrapped up in an air of nostalgia. Their act was succinct and flowed well, but was met with mixed reactions from the audience. Quannnic has dabbled in several different genres, but meeting this level of success to tour with an act such as Slowdive this early in their career shows that they have great things to come.
Slowdive put on an amazing show, there is certainly no question there. The audio mix was tight, visuals were amazing, and general production was seamless. Their ability to manipulate their instruments and effects in such an intricate manner without sacrificing tonal quality or overpowering each other is an art in and of itself. The band hit songs ranging their entire discography including their newer songs, which have a more refined sound compared to their early 1990s fuzz-laden recordings. Slowdive still has their signature sound, and though their music has evolved, their audience continues to grow, with a strong interest within young alternative circles. They are a must-see for anyone that enjoys an immersive experience, or simply appreciates being transported to another dimension through soundwaves.