In a packed venue full of leather jackets, flannels and the unmistakable aura of nostalgia, Slowdive reminded me why they remain at the heart of the shoegaze genre. Over three decades after their debut, the English rock band continues to captivate fans with their ethereal melodies and mesmerizing performances.
Slowdive was formed in Berkshire in 1989. They became one of the leading figures in the English shoegaze scene, a genre known for dreamy soundscapes and airy vocals. Slowdive released three studio albums before disbanding in 1995. They reunited in 2014, nearly two decades later, reinvigorating their legacy with a self-titled album in 2017 and their fifth studio album, “Everything Is Alive,” in 2023. This latest release marked a milestone as their first album to reach the top 10 placement, debuting at No. 3 on Billboard.
Slowdive’s revival coincided with a broader resurgence of the shoegaze genre, fueled by Generation Z’s embrace of their nostalgic yet timeless sound. The band’s growing popularity has attracted larger and more diverse crowds to their shows. The crowd at Slowdive’s latest show embodied the band’s generational appeal, with suburban dads reliving their youth alongside college-aged couples in love.
The artist Quannnic opened for Slowdive, representing the continued revival of the shoegaze genre. Quannnic is an 18-year-old artist who started in their bedroom in 2020, producing shoegaze and emo music inspired by the original English shoegaze bands of the 1980s and 1990s. Their inclusion in the lineup symbolized the bridge between shoegaze’s storied past and its promising future.
Slowdive’s setlist masterfully blended fan favorites with tracks from their latest album, providing a healthy mix of nostalgia and fresh material. Iconic songs like “Alison” and “When the Sun Hits” drew cheers of excitement from longtime fans, while newer tracks resonated with first-time listeners. The band encored the show with “Dagger,” the slowest and most intimate song in their discography. Its hauntingly simple lyrics provided the show with a poignant ending, leaving the crowd in a reflective silence as the band made its way off the stage.
They let their music speak for itself, with few theatrical movements or overly intimate interactions with fans. In fact, the band rarely spoke, never even announcing the songs they performed. While this could have easily resulted in a dull performance, there was something captivating about their understated presence, managing to entertain without being over the top. Every member of the band exuded a breezy kind of confidence that can only come with decades of being in the industry and performing.
The music was accompanied by trippy visuals and strobe lights. The flashing lights added to the music rather than took away from it, enhancing the fuzzy feeling that Slowdive’s music emulates. Live reverb continued this illusion, resulting in the live versions of the songs sounding just like the studio versions. This seamless blend of sound and spectacle hypnotized the audience, transporting them into Slowdive’s musical universe.
Slowdive’s enduring appeal — paired with the rise of young artists like Quannnic — highlights the genre’s ability to resonate across generations. With “Everything Is Alive” marking a high point in their career, Slowdive continues to captivate audiences, proving that shoegaze’s dreamlike allure is here to stay.
