By Lucy Bevan, Music Editor
For a band that has been together for over 20 years, Lake Street Dive have perfected the art of radiating a new, fresh energy while simultaneously bringing about a collective reminiscence with their old-soul sound.
The Bristol Beacon in my opinion was the perfect choice for a concert like this. With its own restaurant, beautiful architecture, and an effortlessly sophisticated feel, the Beacon felt like an appropriate choice to host musicians of such a high calibre.
Mama’s Gun took the supporting role for the evening’s show, perfectly setting the tone right for Lake Street Dive’s set. This was my first time hearing their music, but it will not be my last.
Keyboardist Dave Oliver particularly blew me away, with his feet flying from the pedals as he boasted his unbelievable talent during a fleeting solo. Lead vocalist Andy Platts had the audience wrapped around his finger, especially during ‘Joy’, in which he conducted a perfect call and response between the band and the crowd during the chorus. The one word I wrote down after their set to describe Platts’s voice was ‘crisp’, and that really is the perfect explanation - it almost scratched an itch.
After a short interval, Lake Street Dive arrived. Admittedly, the first thing I noticed was lead vocalist Rachel Price’s hair, but her voice quickly snatched its attention. After the introduction, the band immediately pulled us in to their jazzy, pop-soul world with ‘You're Never Around’. I noticed that the flashes of light above them matched the beat, a delicate touch that added to the audience's excitement.
Next, we were treated to a moment of serendipity, as the band performed ‘Dance With A Stranger’. I couldn't help but smile after looking around the room and seeing exactly that - a group of strangers dancing and singing as a collective to the music of a band they share a love for - a beautifully grounding feeling.
Already on a high, the sweet sound of ‘Better Than’ and its iconic bass line dominated the stage. I’d been waiting to see this track live for as long as I can remember, and with Rachel’s voice sounding identical to the recording, it felt like I was somehow back in every moment this song has been with me for. This emotional overwhelm is exactly why I love live music, a feeling which clearly resonated with the rest of the crowd, as I heard a lustful ‘ugh’ from an audience member as the song began.
A solo from keyboardist Akie Bermiss perfectly rounded off this section of the set, with a sound so intimate it almost felt like an invasion of privacy to watch. With the band visibly in awe of his talent, the tone was set right for us to dance and let loose to ‘Baby Don't’ and then ‘Vegas Mattress’, which was memorable not only for its sound, but also for the comedic anecdote told by Rachel to introduce the song.
If there’s one thing Lake Street Dive have got nailed to the ground, it’s covers. In a brief post-show discussion with some other audience members, one fan admitted to me that they don't think they will ever be able to listen to the originals of the band’s covers after hearing them live. Spoiling us with the likes of The Jacksons, Hall and Oates, and Shania Twain, even those unfamiliar with their originals had something to sing along to.
The story of unreleased song ‘All Ways’ is worth a mention here, too. Written by bassist Bridget about ‘observing other people's ways of loving each other and learning from [them]’, comparing couples who have been together for years and couples who are just starting out. Bridget and Rachel explained how they tossed and turned considering what to write the third verse about, and just as I thought heartbreak was the obvious choice, ‘friendship’, Rachel announced, to which the audience replied a sincere ‘awww’. The performance which followed, therefore, was dedicated to their friend and drummer, Mike, who looked almost indifferent to the lyrics, as though he was content in their meaning.
Katie Asha
The night carried on with more crowd favourites, including ‘Hypotheticals' and an encore of ‘Rich Girl’ and ‘Good Kisser’. Throughout these last few songs, I kept catching each of them individually staring at each other in complete awe - in particular during ‘Seventeen’ when I spotted Mike shaking his head in disbelief at the sound of Rachel's voice, solidifying the friendship they’d previously sung about.
Just as we thought the night had come to a close, none other than Dirty Dancing's (1987) ‘(I've Had) The Time of My Life’ humbly sang through the speakers. The crowd took to this immediately, showing off their ballroom and latin skills with their loved ones. It was at this point that I gave up trying to hold back any emotion. So, blown away entirely with the unapologetic display of love in front of me, a few tears did roll down my face.
An excellent evening to kickstart the UK leg of their tour, to say the absolute least.
Featured image: Epigram / Lucy Bevan
Were you lucky enough to attend?
