Slow Pulp at Brighton Music Hall, 11/3/23
Walking into Brighton Music Hall after running from the bus stop on a Friday night for my first-ever press duties inspired a myriad of emotions, none more overwhelming than the daunting appearance of the full hall and excitement of the crowd. Prior to Slow Pulp's concert on the third of November, I had little interaction with their music, let alone their fan base. However, I had heard nothing but wonderful things and my expectations were high.
While everyone was waiting for the main set, the vibes in Brighton were electric. As I awkwardly weaved my way through the crowd to the press pit, every person I encountered was so warm and friendly as I slowly approached the stage. Some even went as far as to let the person in front of them know that I was getting through to do press for their favorite band. I finally made my way into the press pit, where I was greeted by a handful of other concert photographers who helped me get settled in and lended me warm smiles as we all got ready for the show to begin.
As the pre-set music began to slow to a stop, the crowd hushed in anticipation of the band’s entrance. The familiar feeling of excitement and anticipation very quickly washed over me. Before I knew it, Slow Pulp emerged from the green room, and the hall erupted in loud cheers and screams permeated the air. Everything and everyone was abuzz. The band launched into “Slugs” from their 2023 album, Yards. While Slugs is not a fast paced song, we were all captivated by their performance, as I began snapping photos of the band, I could hear the crowd behind me singing. I had listened to Slugs on my way over, but like many songs, hearing it live was another world. After “Slugs”, Slow Pulp’s lead singer, Emily Massey, spoke to us with a personal touch and connection that I’ve never experienced before. Throughout the concert, Massey would pause between songs to either preface the next song, or to just check in and see how everyone in the crowd was doing. While words can be empty, it felt as though she really cared.
Around halfway through the set, Massey reintroduced two members from their opener, Babehoven, to perform Slow Pulp’s hit song, “Falling Apart” with them. “Falling Apart” is charted as their number one most popular song on Spotify, and I completely understand why. The nostalgia I derive from Slow Pulp’s music is what makes it so special. During their performance of “Falling Apart” (and of course the rest of their set), the vibes were just so sweet (while I wish there was a word with more flair, sweet is honestly the perfect word to encapsulate the entire experience).
I’m so grateful to have been able to cover Slow Pulp for my first concert with Melisma. Throughout the concert, the venue felt comfortable, because of the people and the warm and cozy vibe of the hall despite its large size. Slow Pulp did a wonderful job of gripping their audience, they were spectacular at navigating the energy during the entire show and it was clear that they were also interacting with the energy the crowd was giving them. At its core, a concert is already such an intimate and exciting experience both for the artist and the listener. Something I have experienced at some concerts is a disconnect between the artist and the audience, like it almost doesn’t feel real, and this concert was anything BUT that. Each member of Slow Pulp clearly had a real connection with their fans. It truly is a heartwarming thing to experience, and I’m glad I was able to be there.
