beabadoobee
Review

Review & Photos by Ricky Bantog

Soma | San Diego, CA

March 27, 2023

beabadoobee played a mesmerizing concert last night at Soma in San Diego, delivering an intimate and heartfelt performance that left the entire audience feeling connected and inspired.

The Filipino-British singer-songwriter, born Beatrice Laus, has been making waves in the indie music scene since the release of her debut EP "Lice" in 2018. With her distinct brand of dreamy indie-pop, she has quickly gained a dedicated following of fans who connect with her honest and relatable lyrics as well as her down-to-earth personality.

The night began with an opening set from local San Diego band, moondaddy, who warmed up the crowd with their signature dream pop sound. As the lights dimmed and the crowd cheered, beabadoobee took the stage, accompanied by her band.

Dressed in a black sleeveless top and denim skirt with knee high boots, she immediately captivated the audience with her angelic voice and soulful guitar playing. Launching into "10:36," the first track off her latest album, Beatopia, Bea set the tone for the rest of the night - a perfect mix of fan favorites from her entire discography, including "Care", "She Plays Bass", and "Apple Cider." Each song was performed with an infectious energy that had the crowd dancing and singing the lyrics so loud that at times the crowd was louder than Bea herself. Truly, hardcore beabadoobee fans are from San Diego.

But it was during her slower, more introspective moments that she truly shone. Her stripped-down rendition of "Sorry" was particularly moving, as she poured her heart out on stage and left the audience in a collective state of awe.

The highlight of the night came during her performance of "Coffee", the song that initially launched her into the spotlight. As soon as the opening chords of the song rang out, the crowd erupted in cheers, phones quickly shot up in the air, and the entire venue began singing along, creating a magical moment that still gives me goosebumps.

And just like that, the moment every concertgoer dreads the most finally came as Bea hit the end of her final song. She endlessly thanked the crowd as she made her way off the stage, and in return, the entire venue cheered while others screamed “We love you Bea!”