It was already about 15 minutes into The Beaches August 3rd set on day 1 of Lollapalooza. Finish Ticket, the set I saw ahead of The Beaches, overlapped just a bit. Luckily the stages were close, and it was just a slight jaunt from the Barcardi Stage to the Bud Light Stage.
Although it was day one, I started with an ambitious back-to-back line-up. After all, The Beaches were playing a 1:15 set.
Feeling The Beaches Set
As I neared, I could hear the band before I could see the stage. I hung back from the stage, already a little worn out.
Even at the back, I could feel the bass. I understand feeling the music is part of the experience. However, I am super sensitive to bass. If I went any further, I knew I’d reach that feeling of suffocation/drowning by sound waves. Anyway, from the back I was still able to appreciate the music and the performance.
I soaked up the 90’s punk rock girl band vibes. It really gave me a bit of nostalgia and I’m not sure why.
One of the standout aspects of The Beaches’ performance was their undeniable chemistry. Perhaps a result of forming in their teenage years, the band’s years of friendship and collaboration shone through in every note they played. In particular, Jordan and Kylie Miller’s vocal harmonies were like a musical embrace, and their energy was infectious, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.
Not only did I stay for the positive vibes, but the vocals also surprised me. Lead vocalist Jordan Miller hit low notes beautifully with this nice rasp sound. A feat for a women only group.
The group’s performance was fun and energetic. Perhaps even inspiring. It was one of those shows where I walked away thinking, dang if only I could be in a girl band.
Setlist and What’s Next
The setlist was a perfect blend of their infectious hits and newer material, keeping fans both nostalgic while also teasing what is soon to come. Songs like “Lame,” “Desdemona,” and “T-Shirt” had the audience singing along at the top of their lungs, while newer tracks like “Blame Brett” and “Everything is Boring” showcased the band’s September 15th release of their newest album, Blame My Ex.
“Everything is Boring” in particular, stood out to me and was incredibly catchy. For a song about being bored, it was absolutely fun! A gem of a piece to rock out, sing, and dance along to.
Overall, the Toronto-based rock band, left us all craving more of their sun-kissed sound. The quartet, composed of Jordan Miller, Kylie Miller, Eliza Enman-McDaniel, and Leandra Earl, brought their A-game to Grant Park, and it was nothing short of a delightful experience.
The Beaches will be performing again at a sold-out show in Chicago, on October 7, at the Chop Shop.
