Best Coast brought some California sun to a Camden night when they played to a sold out Electric Ballroom.
It was interesting standing in the queue and listening to excited fans trying to explain to a guy handing out flyers what the band sounds like. “Are they like Jimmy Eat World?” was his query. “Erm, no, not really” was the response, although no real clarification followed. Best Coast are basically a rock band, but you feel that whatever genre you put them in, it won’t quite do them justice. I think that was the point those kids were trying to get to before the doors were suddenly flung open.
Best Coast have 
just released their third album California Nights which, as someone pointed out on Twitter, sounds like it could have been the soundtrack for 10 Things I Hate About You and I would agree. I mean this as a compliment to Bethany Cosentino’s songwriting. A lyrical genius she is not, but it is ridiculously catchy and this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the crowd seemed to already know most of the words when it had only been released a couple of weeks before the show. Inevitably when you hear an album that hooks you and reels you in like this there is always the concern that it may not translate into a live show, but this band delivers.
It seems to take a few songs for Cosentino to warm up to being on stage, which I guess isn’t surprising considering the backlash they’ve received in the past and the openness with which she talks about anxiety. However, once they have blasted through Fine Without You, we get a little comment of “it’s nice to be back in London” and she seems to become more comfortable throughout the set. It’s a shame that critics and trolls have seen fit to make comments about Best Coast’s songs being anti-feminist. Isn’t this young woman singing about love and the insecurity that those feelings naturally bring? I think so. When Cosentino says “this song is dedicated to every hater in and out of this building” before jumping into Jealousy (“Why don’t you like me? What’s with the jealousy?”) you can understand why she feels the need to make the point. I guess that people may just be offended by the fact their music is so inoffensive, if that’s possible.
For me, real treats throughout the set come from the change of pace for the dreamy California Nights, which requires a good deal of stargazing and swaying and somehow reminds me of How Soon Is Now?, the breezy surf swing of Fading Fast and the punky Primitives feel of Heaven Sent. One persistent fan also persuades the band to play Bratty B after Cosentino says they need to “make sure we remember it”. Obviously the encore song is the much requested sing-along and sway of Boyfriend. However, the song that has stuck with me most is Feeling Ok, which has to be a summer smash.
So, did I come to a conclusion about a genre for Best Coast? I think earworm creators would sum them up nicely because I have had this gig stuck in my head ever since I left that Camden night behind me.
Set list
The Only Place
Heaven Sent
Fine Without You
The End
Do You Still Love Me Like You Used To
Crazy For You
No One Like You
So Unaware
California Nights
I Don’t Know How
Dreaming My Life Away
When I’m With You
Fade Away
Fading Fast
Bratty B
In My Eyes
Feeling Ok
Goodbye
Jealousy
When Will I Change
Encore:
Boyfriend