After their multi-city United Kingdom and European Bunny tour, Beach Fossils returned to the USA, accompanied by opening band Nation Of Language, and gave a dazzling performance at the House of Blues in Chicago on April 7.
Based in New York, Beach Fossils consists of Dustin Payseur, vocalist/guitarist; Jack Doyle Smith, bassist; Tommy Davidson, guitarist; and Anton Hochheim, drummer. This marks the second time the Indie-rock band has performed in Chicago this past year—they played a sold-out show at the Metro in November.
While Beach Fossils is on tour for their album Bunny, the setlist complements their accomplishments this past decade. Their vocals radiate gentle sounds of indie rock and dream pop, while the show features an intoxicating color scheme of blue and pink strobe lights synchronizing with bursts of emphatic vibrancy.
Beach Fossil’s raw talent on display at House of Blues
Surprisingly, Beach Fossils kicked off their performance with “This Year,” a throwback from Somersault. It was immediately followed by “Don’t Fade Away,” a fan favorite from their latest album Bunny. Bunny marks the band’s 7th album, and the first time since Somersault’s release in 2017, of a completely new list of songs.
While many of Beach Fossils came from Bunny, they played beloved hits from their older discography, such as Clash the Truth and their eponymous album Beach Fossils. Payseur’s vocals evoke a mellow sound in contrast with the animated instrumentals—where all the members’ talents blend together seamlessly on stage.
While the show itself proved to be electric, it was during “Sleep Apnea” that the band truly shined. The kaleidoscopic lights were completely turned off, and Payseur asked the crowd to use their phone flashlights to spotlight the band on stage. It was one of their slowest and most powerful songs of the night—it showcased their raw talent as a natural light filled the stage at the House of Blues.