Best Coast

Best Coast are set to be the sound of the summer and form another reminder why the USA’s west coast has such a high reputation. Bethany Cosentino’s music is upbeat and cheery complete with melancholic lyrics that showing a more serious side.

Tonight’s gig is opened by Factory Floor who supply some pure, excessive noise. Using an remarkable combination of electro beats, distorted singing, a guitar played with a violin bow and some energetic drumming they surprisingly enough manage to mould this sound into something not half bad and although slightly deafening leave the crowd rather impressed.

After Factory Floor you would expect Best Coast to sound almost muted but they have perfected a raw, powerful sound unusual for the style of music that completely fills the Captain’s Rest’s packed out basement. Two guitars at full volume occasionally block out Cosentino’s that could take some depth out of the lyrics but it’s a style that works and injects more emotion to their songs.

Best Coast open with ‘This is Real’ a bubbly, bouncy song that gets the crowd bobbing along and sets the tone for the rest of the set. Although only playing for about half an hour, Best Coast make the most of this short time with a mixed set of the crowds favourites (‘When I’m With You‘ and the more melancholy ‘Sun Was High (So Was I)’) and some new songs, including the lively ‘Goodbye‘ and ‘Boyfriend‘. Many of the songs have a Beach Boys-esque sound, albeit with a raw edge and evoke the same wishful dreaming of summer time and relaxing at the beach.

The only thing wrong with Best Coast set tonight is the length, as the crowd could quite happily have listened to their delightful dream pop all night, still the emotion and energy they put into their performance make up for that. When their full length comes out later this year I’m sure they’ll been back and treat us to a longer set make sure you get yourself along.

Words: Katherine Haig