Bedroom pop superstar Beabadoobee took Rock City by storm in Autumn, and The Mic sent Bethany Coldwell down to review what was an excellent show.
Beloved Beabadoobee, modern-rock-takes-bedroom-pop artist from London is quickly emerging in today’s rock-loving music climate. Following her first release in 2017, the sweet-voiced singer has released an array of increasingly popular music since, with her sound evolving from timid bedroom pop to something much heavier (and much more fun to dance to in a room full of people). Previously, Bea’s music has always been something I’ve found comfort in - listening to Coffee, her first ever single, whisks me back to being 16, in my room, fairy lights on, tapestry up, crying about some guy (you know the drill). Her intimate lyrics about love and relationships, and more recently the end of such things is something many can find hard hitting and her music makes sense of many of these feelings with both her sound and her poetic words. I feel she really has a talent for putting difficult feelings into heartfelt words - poetry with a melody, if you will.
After seeing her in the past, most recently supporting The 1975 at the O2 in London, I had prepared myself for a calm and emotional show, with slow songs and delicate guitar. Her music has always offered a comforting space, with my taste more inclined to her sad and slow music. However, this was all to change following her show at Rock City, a night I had been tentatively awaiting, that absolutely did not disappoint. Arriving at the venue fashionably late, but just in time for the support act, I had the expectation of leaving with tears rolling down my face, imagining a night surrounded by sobbing, heartbroken peers. We were met with an intimidatingly cool, young and lively queue of Bea fans outside of rock city, trailing out the door and down the road, that seemed nearly as long as that at the bar. Soon after, the support act, Pretty Sick, took to the stage. I was astonished with how much I loved them. Their heavy but lively set complemented the headliner’s music very well, and their energetic aura set the mood of the night for an already-excitable crowd. They were a perfect fit for the likes of Beabadoobee, and an absolute must-listen for fans of such music.
Rock City was full to the brim, the floor as well as the balcony packed with fans of all ages - I was overwhelmed with the amount of people who had turned out to support someone who I still regarded as a reasonably small artist but was very impressed with the support and fan base that is clearly rapidly growing for her. As any good night starts, the lights went down and the crowd erupted into cheering and clapping as Bea and her band stepped foot onto the stage for an energy-fuelled, emotional rollercoaster of an hour and a half.
I feel she really has a talent for putting difficult feelings into heartfelt words - poetry with a melody, if you will.
Opening with 10:36, which was clearly a crowd favourite, I was truly taken aback, as the crowd sung in unison what seemed like every single word to every song for the entirety of the show. The environment was truly ecstatic, it felt like the world had been put on hold for a while as everyone’s attention was set on the entrancingly beautiful music from an equally stunning band. The setlist she went on to perform was clearly music chosen in the hopes of an energetic crowd; her heavy, rocky music echoed through the room as people danced - a mosh pit to Beabadoobee was not something I had ever considered seeing, but was welcomed from (most) members of the crowd.
Some timeless favourites, alongside a sprinkling of tracks from the newly released and much loved album Beatopia, made for a fantastically executed setlist for the night. My only criticism was that my favourite song You Lie All The Time wasn’t included, but its forgiven based purely on the fact that I found a new favourite. Dye It Red was the best of the night, in my opinion. The collaboration of the guitar, along with Bea’s voice and the accompaniment of red lighting, flashing on the beat made for an extraordinarily hard-hitting performance. I am also a massive fan of Talk, one of the singles off the newest album, which she performed so well and is certainly a crowd pleaser with an extremely catchy chorus. As previously mentioned, I had the luck of seeing Bea a couple of years ago when she supported the 1975 on their last tour.The friendship between Bea and the band is one I enjoy seeing online as they continue to support each other, and after her show it was more evident the inspiration from the music of Matty Healy into her own music. There definitely seems to be a 1975-esque influence in a couple of her songs. Notably, Healy co-wrote a couple of songs off her 5th EP - a collaboration that has created some truly lovely music such as You’re here that’s the thing.
There are many things that I love about Beabadoobee as an artist: her talent, her music, her lyrics. But, most of all, I love the absolute contrast between her confidence, stage presence and rockstar-aura, and her timid, delicate and soft voice. When speaking between songs she had a shy demeanour, but as soon as the music started playing, that was completely blown out of the water. The modern-rock style of her music suits her voice ridiculously well, and although it was at times funny to hear the contrast between her speaking and singing voices as a song ended, this complete juxtaposition just makes her that much more likeable. I like what that seems to stand for, too. As a newly and quickly emerging female artist, it was so inspiring and comforting to see the support she has accumulated and the excitement the crowd seemed to have about her and her music, which speaks of personal experience and painful events and feelings in love. The crowd were over the moon to hear that.
In a heavily male-dominated genre, it was wonderful to see her thrive how she did and continues to do, with American tours for the new album under her belt and a European tour around the corner. I am, as always, sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for what is to come with Bea.
Bethany Coldwell
Edited by: Jake Longhurst
All images courtesy of Beabadoobee.
Video courtesy of Beabadoobee via YouTube.
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