May concert recap

Babe Rainbow at SLO Brew – May 12

Babe Rainbow made a quick return to San Luis Obispo after their last performance in October with a sold-out performance at SLO Brew Rock on May 12.

As the group began playing, three tall scrolls standing behind the musicians were illuminated by various still images from film slides. Behind the projections was visual artist Dominic Santos, a sort of hidden star of the show. Choosing from an assortment of film slides scattered across the corner of the stage, Santos was moving around in front of the stage the whole performance, selecting slides and changing them out in the projector. 

The various still projections of abstract shapes and natural landscapes brought a unique visual element to the show that complemented the upbeat energy of Babe Rainbow.

With a discography consisting of five albums, one of which was released after their last stop in SLO, the band had plenty of songs to choose from. They performed their newest single “Super Ego,” as well as three other unreleased songs off of their upcoming EP titled “Fresh As a Head of Lettuce.”

M83 at Vina Robles Amphitheater – May 14

French electronic group M83 lit up Vina Robles Amphitheatre with vibrant colors and the fascinating sounds of electronic and dream pop at SLO Brew Rock on May 14. Their stop in Paso Robles was part of their ongoing Fantasy 2023 tour, and included the band’s most sought-after hits and a showcase of their new album “Fantasy.”

Though M83 has few lyrics, they managed to create an atmosphere that allowed the audience members’ minds to wander among the synth sounds and flashing lights. There was little room within the song for audience collaboration in terms of singing, but the crowd was silently captivated as they swayed and watched the band among the vibrant lighting.

This was evident more than ever when the crowd silenced during their hit song “Wait,” which was released in 2011 and used in popular 2010 media including “The Fault in Our Stars,’ “The Vampire Diaries” and “Gossip Girl.”

Shannon and The Clams at SLO Brew – May 16

The mesmerizing lighting by Mad Alchemy Light Shows et a lively scene for the performances by Shana Cleveland and Shannon and the Clams at SLO Brew Rock on May 16.

Throughout Cleveland’s opening set, the band played songs from “Manzanita” and Cleveland’s 2019 release “Night of the Worm Moon.” In an interview with KCPR, Cleveland had said “You’re not going to dance to the songs on ‘Manzanita.’ You will go on a journey in your mind, if you’re feeling comfortable.”

In her first show in San Luis Obispo following the album’s release, this held true. While the audience didn’t move much to the songs, the reception after each one was warm with a round of applause. 

The audience excitedly cheered when Shannon and the Clams took the stage. Returning to the keyboard for another set was Will Sprott, who had double duty throughout the tour as the keyboardist for both Shana Cleveland and Shannon and the Clams. 

The band performed an 18-song set of tracks from across their discography, including their last release “Year of the Spider.” Some of their songs such as “I Need You Bad” draw similarities to R&B of the ’60s and ’70s, whereas “Midnight Wine” leans into a rougher garage rock sound.

In between songs, the band took some time to talk about their music and interact with fans. Shaw talked about the meaning behind some of her songs such as “If You Could Know,” which she said was about “being happy a couple years ago,” and “Onion,” an upbeat song about therapy.

The Clams kept the audience excited and moving, even too much at times. One crowd member hopped over the barricade and jumped on the stage and danced around for a few moments before jumping back into the crowd for a seemingly botched stage dive. The band checked in with the audience and the stage diver, who apparently walked away uninjured and invincible, after their song to make sure everyone was okay.

Drummer Nate Mahan, who grew up just north in Cayucos, had family and friends in the crowd during the performance. His dad came up and joined the band, playing conga drums for two songs, and then returned for two more during the encore. 

Mapache at SLO Brew Rock – May 19

The duality of Mapache was on full display at SLO Brew Rock on May 19. Known for their folk ballads and upbeat country jams with harmonizing guitars and vocals, Mapache maintained an overall sound reminiscent of the Laurel Canyon music scene of the ’60s and ’70s.

Sharing one microphone, singers Clay Finch and Sam Blasucci began the performance with an acoustic set that had the feeling of a couple of friends playing guitars at a campfire. The two took turns singing in both English and Spanish.

Eventually, drummer Steve Didelot and bassist Cam Wehrle joined the duo for a more lively performance than the acoustic set.

The band’s home state had a clear influence on their sound, singing beachy songs synonymous with Southern California’s culture. The crowd got a preview of Mapache’s next album, “Swinging Stars,” which is set to release on August 18.