Beach Fossils brings their sound to SLO Brew, closing out the California leg of their fall tour
As Wednesdays pass, a sense of familiarity settles in for college students, either participating in the classic “Thirsty Thursday” or, better yet, attending a local concert. On Oct. 2, the correct option was clear, as Brooklyn-based quartet Beach Fossils were gearing up to take the SLO Brew Rock stage.
Beach Fossils’ latest single, “Inside Out,” reached streaming platforms earlier this year, but the group hasn’t dropped a full LP since the 2023 release “Bunny.” The band formed nearly 16 years ago, with their long run encouraging a tour curated for fans rather than an album.
“We listened to your request and have added a ton of material into the new setlist. Some songs that we haven’t played in years and some that we’ve never played live,” Beach Fossil wrote on an Instagram post before embarking on their North America tour.
Entering shortly after doors opened, the room was charged by fans with X-marked hands and eyes set on the barricade. The dimly lit room became filled with a looming, nostalgic feeling.
Concluding the West Coast part of the tour, Beach Fossils was accompanied by openers Girlpuppy and Launder, marking San Luis Obispo as their final performance in California.
Girlpuppy, otherwise known as Becca Harvey, was the first performer to take the stage, standing in front of a projected ocean landscape. Harvey and her band sported matching cropped shirts that originally read “My boyfriend is literally in Beach Fossils,” uniquely redacting certain words with black duct tape to change the phrasing to “literally” and “my friend is a fossil.”
As the crowd began to grow, dark, murky hues of cobalt blue and orange highlighted the stage, illuminating Los Angeles group Launder. Starting the set with tranquilizing shoegaze instrumentals, frontman John Cudlip later addressed the crowd, saying, “We had a keyboard player in the band, the GPS took the wrong direction, and he’s stuck to the gum wall.”
Following Launder’s slot, Beach Fossils guitarist Thomas Davidson emerged from the far left of the platform. The instrumentalist waved to the crowd as his long, rocker hair bounced under a pre-loved baseball cap, inviting audience members to a night of dreamy, laid-back music.
Before diving into their song, “Generation Synthetic,” lead singer Dustin Payseur and bassist Jack Doyle Smith performed what appeared to be an informal knighting ceremony on stage, sharing a guitar and a quick kiss before continuing with the rest of the set.
Throughout the performance, the band carried a nonchalant confidence that matched the integrity of their DIY roots. I found myself easily connected as an audience member, consumed by the extended instrumental riffs and escaping into the music for as long as I could.
Setlist
(Just Like The) Setting Sun
What a Pleasure
Generation Synthetic
Shallow
Don’t Fade Away
Sugar
This Year
Out in the Way
Sleep Apnea
Be Nothing
Tough Love
Numb
May 1st
–
Down the Line
Crashed Out
Daydream
