beabadoobee live at O2 Academy Birmingham: An ode to girlhood

O2 Academy Birmingham, 15 November 2024

beabadoobee’s live show at Birmingham’s O2 Academy was an electrifying testament to her growth as an artist, blending nostalgia with experimental sounds. Kicking off with tracks from her latest album, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, you can immediately feel the depth of her musical evolution. With her signature blend of indie rock, bedroom pop, and alternative influences, beabadoobee (aka Beatrice Kristi Laus) commands the stage with a magnetic presence.

As expected, a quick survey indicates that fans queued as early as 6 a.m., with the average queuing time starting at 10 a.m. Fans are seen wearing merch—old and new, cat ears, and custom embellishments—that turned the venue into a patchwork of devotion. Complementing the fans, beabadoobee’s stripped-back stage design, comprised of littered paint cans and green vines, is a blend of abstract and whimsical.

The setlist is a mix of old favourites and new gems. The infectious ‘California’ sets the tone early. Songs like ‘Talk’ and ‘Take A Bite’ from her latest album prove just how well she’s perfected the art of blending raw emotion with layered instrumentation. The crowd’s energy matches hers in every beat, singing along to every word, whether to the melancholy strums of ‘Girl Song’ or the more anthemic ‘Charlie Brown’. The transitions between songs are seamless, aided by atmospheric lighting that enhances the emotional pull of tracks like ‘the perfect pair’ and ‘10:36’. As the night progresses, we get the sense that beabadoobee is no longer just the indie darling she once was but an evolved, more confident artist. With a clear rock-inspired direction on this tour, I imagine many fans, myself included, would be thrilled to see her lean further into this sound in future music.

The night’s emotional core comes when Laus invites Ellie, the creator of the Tiktok viral ‘Real Man’ dance, onstage

The energy hits its peak during ‘Worth It’ when Laus sticks to fan tradition and encourages fans to “sit down” and jump back up in unison. It is a moment of unfiltered fun. The night’s emotional core comes when Laus invites Ellie, the creator of the Tiktok viral ‘Real Man’ dance, onstage. Together, they dance through the chorus, a heartfelt nod to the close-knit relationship between Laus and her fans.

The most serene moment is the unplanned fan project during ‘Glue Song’. As the opening chords play, the crowd lights up the arena with phone flashlights, creating a sea of soft, glowing orbs transforming the space. Swaying to the lyrics, “Stuck by the glue onto you”, the atmosphere created is a breathtaking pause from the frenetic energy, a shared moment of calm that casts a rare sense of intimacy.

Other standout moments include ‘Girl Song’, the live version reimagined with a haunting piano backdrop and minimal lighting that casts Laus in an ethereal glow. Her vocals, imbued with raw emotion, create a beautiful space of inclusivity and warmth. It was a call for everyone, not just girls, to feel the pain of and reminisce about past experiences. The performance of ‘Coffee’ is a nostalgic trigger, unexpectedly transporting me back to the quiet chaos of the 2019 Covid lockdown. The intimate vibe of the evening is fully revelled in during the final moments with the crowd favourite “that’s the way things go”.

Laus’ connection with the audience is palpable, with several moments of playful banter and an easy-going vibe

Laus’ connection with the audience is palpable, with several moments of playful banter and an easy-going vibe. She shares a cosy little anecdote before ‘Coming Home’, describing what it feels like to return to the UK after an international tour and how she cherishes the feeling of returning to her dogs and the ease of performing in the UK. Laus also reveals ‘Beaches’ as her favourite track from the album, making it even more special for me as it is the one I find myself repeatedly listening to.

The concert thrives despite the unfortunate reality of poor ventilation—a concern highlighted as several fans fainted during the show, prompting Laus herself to pause the performance to alert security. The ventilation and crowd management issues impacted the latter part of the set, with logistical delays resulting in a shortened rendition of ‘Coming Home’.

beabadoobee’s tour is a testament to her growth—not just as an artist but as a storyteller. The night was more than a concert; it was a warm hug to the younger, naive version of myself who I’ll always carry within me. With This Is How Tomorrow Moves, beabadoobee has firmly planted herself in the future of indie rock, and if this show was any indication, her performances will only continue to flourish.

★★★★