Author: Haley Parsons
Every time I’ve been to a concert at the Showbox SoDo, I’ve had to line up outside the venue at least an hour beforehand to have any chance at getting a decent spot in the general admission venue. But, I had a feeling that wouldn’t be an issue on Friday night when I arrived about 15 minutes after doors opened for The Breeders. My assumption was correct, and I waltzed through the security line to a spot a couple people away from the stage. The venue wasn’t empty, but the above 21 crowd was busy at the bar or hanging out in other corners, rather than waiting in anticipation for the band. You might not have been able to guess it, but everyone in the room was stoked for this show. I’m sure some of them had been Breeders fans for the past 28 years, but they weren’t squealing and peeing their pants over the idea of seeing the group in person. Honestly, it was reassuring but a little frightening to see that many people who had survived their 20s together in one room. Like, I’m sure that this group had seen their fair share of house shows and festivals, now they settled down and found real jobs and only go to shows sometimes. Part of growing up and getting older seems to be having children, which many people in the crowd had done and brought them along for the night. I saw tweens, teens, and even a baby in the crowd and I had to hand it to the parents who brought them along, they were cool. There’s nothing like sharing a great show with the people who love you the most in the world, and I think a lot of that went down on Friday night.
The opener, Your Heart Breaks, featured legends Dylan Carlson on guitar, Adrienne Davies on drums, and Kimya Dawson on vocals. Dylan and Adrienne are from the Seattle-based drone doom band, Earth. Kimya Dawson was a co-founder of the Moldy Peaches and if you have seen Juno, you know who she is and how talented she sounds. Your Heart Breaks’ set was a soothing reminder that life kind of sucks, but it’s alright because there’s so much good music in the world. They played mostly new material which will be featured on their upcoming album, which was hauntingly beautiful. Dylan Carlson was the highlight of the set for me. Hearing him play guitar amongst the tiny orchestra on stage was more than memorable as music effortlessly fell from him. Also, Kimya Dawson’s sweet voice and witty stage presence was a treat. Your Heart Breaks were even better than I expected and left my conscious clear and ready to absorb The Breeders.
Then, Kim and Kelley Deal walked humbly on stage with Josephine Wiggs and Jim Macpherson to play a killer and cohesive set. They kicked it off with “New Year”, the first song on Last Splashand blazed through about 23 more songs in an hour and a half. Yet it felt as if no time had passed when they reached “Gigantic” and walked off stage, only to return to play a three-song encore that included, “Glorious”, “Nervous Mary”, and “Saints”. Throughout the set, Kim led the playful banter between the band, but mostly with her sister, Kelley. She asked everyone on stage if they were from Dayton, Ohio (her hometown) except Josephine. Later, in her thick British accent, Wiggs commented, “you haven’t asked me where I’m from!” Deal replied, “you’re from Dayton, Ohio!”
The songs that made up the set fit together perfectly in a way that there was almost no way to differentiate between the “new” stuff and the “old” stuff. It was all just The Breeders. Among my favorite moments from the show was when they played “Spacewoman” which Kelly described as a song about being a little different. That struck a chord with me as the song started slow then built into the body-swayer that it was. Another highlight for me was getting to observe the similarities between Kim and Kelly. They simultaneously strummed their guitars with the exact same soft, tiny wrist flick. Plus, they handled their instruments so perfectly; the guitars looked like extensions of their bodies. Everything was so effortless, it was as if they were born to be on stage, in front of huge crowds. I absolutely hope they never stop, either. Neither of them has kids, or ever will, but like the parents in the audience, they shared a great show with the people who love them the most; their bandmates and their fans.
The Breeders are one of the best and most resilient bands of the last 30 years and their music will be passed down from their lifelong fans to their kids who were at the show on Friday to those kids’ kids. Shoot, I know I’ll be passing them down to my kiddos if I have any!
If you want to check out more of their music, find them on Spotifyand Like them on Facebook!
For more information on the band, read my preview of the show here.
HALEY PARSONS | NOT from Dayton, Ohio | KXSU Music Reporter