Slowdive Pierced a Dagger Through My Heart: A Concert Review

Graphic by Anya Perel-Arkin

By Farah Rincon

Arriving at Boston's House of Blues on a bitterly cold, rainy afternoon, I was amazed to see a long line full of characters of all ages, each with a noticeable excitement to hear Slowdive, a long-time contributor to the Shoegaze scene. It was no surprise that the English band drew fans that ranged from Gen X to Gen Z, since the band rose to prominence in the 1990s following the release of their sophomore album Souvlaki (1993). Some fans may refer to this album as their magnum opus, and, as Pitchfork points out, one of the best Shoegaze albums of all time. Nonetheless, with a combination of Slowdive's devoted fans and Gen Z's ability to resurrect the Shoegaze genre on TikTok, their new album, everything is alive (2023), has been met with open arms by both their old and new fan bases after a six-year hiatus. Having dabbled in the post-pandemic Shoegaze revival myself, I was eager to see the iconic band perform fan favorites like "When the Sun Hits," "Dagger," and "40 Days." 

The opening act, Drab Majesty, had an intriguing performance that reminded me of an indie, alternative version of Men in Black (they had blonde wigs, a tuxedo, and tiny, black sunglasses) with long, echoing guitar chords to get lost in. Having warmed up the audience enough, Slowdive walked out onto the stage, nonchalantly, and immediately jumped into their opening song from their latest album, shanty.  From the first few chords of the opening track, I and the rest of the audience appeared to be in a trance, dazing into the various ethereal melodies that merged from each instrument, from the bass to the synths and into the guitar. The following songs, “player remembered,” “Star Roving,” “Catch the Breeze,” and notably, “Crazy for You” shared a similar hypnotizing  prolonged sound that seemed as one unified musical piece rather than separate songs. "Crazy for You," my personal favorite from the trio, featured a liminal, nostalgic chord progression leading to a short, yet meaningful lyric sung in Neil Halstead's calm tone: “Crazy for loving you (crazy for love, for love, for love).” The climax of the concert was towards the middle, reaching for the final act. The setlist had renowned songs one after the other, such as "Sugar for the Pill," "Alison," and "When the Sun Hits." The concert had reached its loudest point as the choruses blasted through the venue, making it the perfect pivotal point of the concert, exciting the audience while they swayed and sang along to their favorite songs.

 The musical quality was wonderful, and Rachel Goswell's angelic stage presence radiated throughout the entire venue, with fans expressing their love for her with loud cries, which she acknowledged gracefully with a smile and wave. Along with that, bassist Nick Chaplin appeared to be focused on hitting all of the notes and grooving back and forth while mostly playing alongside the talented drummer Simon Scott. The band members are clearly masters of what it takes to captivate their audience as they all shared a perfect dynamic without overpowering one another. After all, it's what I'd expect from a band with thirty years of experience. 

Toward the end of the show, the band performed a Syd Barret cover of "Golden Hair," which was one of the show's main highlights, taking me on an emotional rollercoaster. The song began with Goswell's siren-like tone, repeating the same melody until she eventually walked off stage. I then stood, listening to Scott's lengthy drum solo, which was full of energy and life, banging against my ears and giving off an adrenaline rush that you could feel from a mile away. This contrast had given me whiplash, as I first felt drowsiness that quickly turned into uncontrollable vibrant excitement. On the other hand, the quiet acoustics of "Dagger" were part of the encore and could not be overlooked; in fact, I began to cry as Gowell and Halstead's melancholy vocals gently whispered to my heart. Last but certainly not least, the concert concluded with "40 Days," rejoicing the audience and concluding an incredible night full of great music.

Slowdive's performance was one that I will remember for the rest of my life. Their stage presence is unforgettable, their fans are vibrant, and their music is indescribably emotional. You don't have to be a die-hard fan to see them and rock out to their music at least once.