Slowdive kicked off the latest/last leg of their North American touring behind Everything Is Alive this past Saturday night here in Toronto, and I think that of the seven (!) times I’ve seen them since they reunited in 2014, it may have been the best overall performance yet. The sound was fantastic, as per usual for Massey Hall, but Rachel Goswell was also higher up in the mix than I think she’s ever been.
The set list was very balanced across all the albums and mixed things up nicely; opening with “Avalyn” and closing with “Machine Gun” was unexpected and exhilarating, and honestly I don’t miss “Golden Hair” as a finale at all. In addition to song selection, they seemed to be trying some new things sonically; Simon Scott – back on drums after missing the Fall North American tour – seemed to be using triggered electronic drums as much as acoustic, which certainly changed the feel of some songs, and Neil Halstead was using his signature Lucem Unorthodox guitar for most of the set, only turning to the Casino, Stratocaster, and Rickenbacker a few times each; last time the Strat did most of the work.
Anyways, point being, if you’re seeing them on this tour and are worried it might be getting a little stale, don’t. They’re still amazing.
Which brings us in absolutely no direct way to this live session, recorded almost eight years ago when they were touring Slowdive. I don’t know how I missed it when it was originally released/streamed, but Pitchfork webcast a five-song session recorded at Be Electric Studio in Brooklyn, New York, in early May 2017. Actually, I know how I missed it, I got married that weekend (but I still went to their Toronto show the night before! Priorities!).
The studio has a writeup on the session – and many pics – over on their own website:
The English natives just happened to be in town for two sold out nights at Brooklyn Steel. They arrived to our studio the morning after their first NYC show in two years, and first since releasing their brand new album (first album since 1995’s Pygmalion). The setup for this live stream which took place via Pitchfork’s facebook page at 1 o’clock on Tuesday was a little bit different stylistically than the one from the day before. Rather than including any bright colored set walls, they kept things simple with our freshly painted black cyclorama and a massive wash of fog throughout to help set the tone. This stream was also shot in black and white which seemed rather appropriate. It was an absolute honor to have Slowdive in our photo studio rental space amidst their triumphant return.
Slowdive // Pitchfork Live @ Be Electric
