Beabadoobee and MGM Music Hall Are The Perfect Pair
Photo Courtesy of Jordan Curtis Hughes // @jordhughesphoto
Beatrice Laus didn’t always have high hopes for her music career. She picked her stage name on a whim back in 2017, ripping it straight from her private Instagram account. “I never really expected this to be a thing,” she said in a 2021 interview with The Current. Today, beabadoobee is playing in 5,000 seat theaters.
On September 13th, beabadoobee took to the stage at MGM Music Hall to tour her new record, This Is How Tomorrow Moves. Her third studio album, released on August 9th, is a sizable departure from her previous work. Themes of personal development and growing into adulthood show a stark development in Bea’s writing as she grows older. Her stories have evolved to be more mature and thoughtful, ripe with newfound introspection. The musical style of the album reflects her newfound perspective on life, replacing the grungy electric guitar riffs of her early work with softer, more serene instrumentals. Nods to her rock beginnings are still present, particularly on the tracks “California” and “Post,” but it’s clear that Bea has a different musical perspective than she did when making her fan favorite EP, Space Cadet, over 5 years ago.
The moment she hits the stage, Bea’s energy commands the room; she’s wearing a denim skirt, brown leather cowboy boots, and a plum-colored long sleeve shirt. Above her, a plethora of industrial fluorescent lights are lowered down. She’s surrounded by white sheets hung up nonchalantly, with a folding table stationed to her right. The stage is set up to resemble an underground house show, contrasting the massive audience of clamoring fans below it.
Bea’s set begins with a bang as she plays the opening track to This Is How Tomorrow Moves, “California.” The song tells the story of an artist overworked on tour– an ironic opener, but one she delivers with gumption. From the minute she starts her set, her infectious smile lights up the stage; her joy to be performing is immediately clear. She follows with sophomore album Beatopia favorites “Talk” and “10:36,” two equally high-energy songs that elicit an electric reaction from the crowd. Deep cut “Charlie Brown” follows suit, keeping the energy up and the crowd excited. The high-energy opening section of the set is wrapped up with another new song, “Post,” which skillfully combines Bea’s rock roots with her newer, softer style. Her choice to play her highest energy songs to kick start the show is a smart one– the crowd is amped up, and the people around me who were fatigued from long waiting times were immediately satisfied.
Before hopping into more music, Bea takes a moment to address the audience. “I just released an album. It’s very special to me, and I hope that it’s special to you,” she warmly notes, before playing the first single from This Is How Tomorrow Moves, “Take A Bite.” Bea keeps her addresses to the audience short and sweet, never rambling on for too long. It’s something that I really appreciated– she was there to play music, and she knew we were there to hear it. Don’t get me wrong, I love audience engagement, but there’s a case to be made for letting your work speak for itself.
“Take A Bite” kicks off the more slow-paced section of the setlist, with a number of low-key songs following– “Sunny Day,” “Ever Seen,” “The Perfect Pair,” “Real Man,” “Glue Song,” “Coffee” and “Girl Song.” The section provides a nice break from the high-energy opening, while allowing Bea to play some of her most popular songs. It’s interesting to note that the majority of beabadoobee’s most streamed songs are slower and toned-down, such as “Coffee” or “Glue Song.” Longtime fans often associate her with her rock beginnings, but her higher-energy music never seemed to break into the mainstream as successfully as her softer tracks.
Bea transitions back into her punchier songs with “Beaches,” which serves as the ultimate climax of her set. “This is my favorite song,” she says, beginning the tune with a newfound energy. As Bea plays, the white curtains behind her are ripped down, revealing a wall of fluorescent lights covered in a deep green moss. The moment almost symbolizes Bea’s transition into the mainstream– the relaxed, casual curtains are torn down to reveal a massive stage; one that, despite the size, Bea continues to command.
After “Beaches,” Bea keeps up the energy with “Care” and “She Plays Bass,” two lively songs that pay homage to her old sound. The audiences’ reaction to “She Plays Bass” was the most visceral of the night, with fans shocked by the inclusion of the song on the set list. It was moving to watch older fans of Bea get so emotional over a song they never expected to hear live. Bea rounds off her main set with “Cologne,” which was an explosion of energy for Bea and the audience alike.
After finishing her set, Bea quietly leaves the stage for a few minutes before coming back out, this time all alone with an acoustic guitar. She kicks off her encore with “Coming Home,” a sticky-sweet love song made all the more intimate by the emptiness of the stage– just Bea, her guitar, and nearly 5,000 strangers. She then plays “the way things go,” another one of her most viral songs, and rounds out the encore with “See you Soon.” The choice to end with “See you Soon” was a poignant one; it felt like one last goodbye, and a promise to meet again.
Photo Courtesy of Jordan Curtis Hughes // @jordhughesphoto
Beabadoobee is one of the most sonically diverse artists working today. I challenge anyone reading to shuffle her profile on Spotify and simply listen; Bea’s discography can shift on a dime from the most vibrant banger you’ve ever heard, to an intimate ballad that will make you want to cry into your pillow. Her show at MGM Music Hall perfectly encapsulated the ever-evolving, multi-dimensional artist that is beabadoobee. Her star shows no sign of dulling as she transitions from indie darling into full blown superstar– I guess, sometimes, that’s just the way things go.