L .S. Dunes
02 Academy 2 1/30/23
Birmingham UK
Ciara W. Photographer
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Live Review
It's the final date of LS Dunes' sold out UK tour. Despite only releasing their first single in August, the band has already gained a loyal following. With members comprised from bands such as: Saosin, Cambria, Thursday and My Chemical Romance, it's no surprise they have gained rapid recognition.
First on stage was Kayleigh Goldsworthy, a solo acoustic artist who described herself as 'the edible you forgot you ate' and a lot quieter than the headliners, as she admitted to the crowd. However, that didn't stop the crowd from being fully immersed in her set which was evident by the number of fans enthusiastically singing along. Goldsworthy’s onstage persona shon remarkably bright and her connection with the crowd; particularly in between songs, highlighted sincere gratitude. At one point, she revealed to the crowd that they were now friends - adding a sweet personal touch to the performance. During her last song Overambitious, the volume ramped up and the mighty L.S. Dunes members joined her onstage - making it the perfect last opening set of the run.
Setlist:
West Coast
Cursed to Wander
Boomerang
Red
You’re Good
Jamie
Overambitious (with L.S. Dunes)
After a brief changeover, it didn’t take long for L.S. Dunes to take over and the talent on the intimate stage was of another level. Opening with their hit Bombsquad was a real crowd pleaser as every member gave it their all. As the set progressed, energy levels only continued to rise from both band and fans - particularly those squished against the barricade. Lead vocalist Anthony even commented that pockets of the crowd were becoming a 'danger zone' due to the intense levels of chaos. In just a short space of time, it’s clear that the band have built a strong connection with their fan base. Multiple instances of fans launching gifts onto the stage occurred throughout the night, as well as a few hand made signs being held up - all with just a debut album to their name. Despite their at-the-moment limited discography, their fairly short set of 11 songs was punchy and well thought out. The tracks were performed in a slightly different order to than of the record which gave fans a new perspective and listening experience. Their set ended on a rather special note as opener Kayleigh Goldsworthy returned to the stage to join them in performing Sleep Cult.
Just one month into the year and L.S. Dunes have set high expectations for live music in 2023 and I'm sure many people will be eagerly awaiting their return to the UK in the not too distant future (we hope).
Setlist:
Bombsquad
Like Forever
Grey Veins
It Takes Time
Blender
Permanent Rebellion
Antibodies
Grifter
Past Lives
2022
Sleep Cult
