Best Coast brings their California vibes to First Avenue

Los Angeles based indie-pop band Best Coast returned to Minneapolis for the first time in several years. Touring to support the February 2020 release of their fourth album Always Tomorrow, the band played a fine show to a large crowd at the First Avenue mainroom. Singer Bethany Cosentino’s voice stood out clear, at times sounding eerily similar to Neko Case.

Starting off with “California Nights“, Best Coast’s soothing sounds tamed a crowd on edge with a global pandemic on the back of their minds. The dynamics of the show didn’t alter much, but instead felt like a cruise down a highway on a sunny summer day with the windows down. The new single “Everything Has Changed” was played in the middle of the set and sounded great. Bobb Bruno’s crunchy guitar tone resonated deeply while Cosentino sang autobiographical lyrics of struggling with alcohol and writing block.

The setlist was heavy on songs from Always Tomorrow, but older tunes like “Feeling OK” from their 2015 album California Nights got larger reactions from the young and attentive crowd. With a more rocking sound, Always Tomorrow is a bit of a departure from their previous dream-pop vibe, but for the most part the crowd rocked along all night.

While Best Coast hit First Avenue with a nice performance, opening punk-rock band Mannequin Pussy was not to be outdone. The band from Philadelphia hammered First Avenue with a mesmerizing performance that left some in the crowd unsure of what to do. Led by singer and guitarist Marisa Dabice who at times conjured up Iggy Pop-like moves, the band unleashed a great set and I can’t wait to see them again.

Mannequin Pussy