Alcest, Deafheaven & Vaura played a sold-out Public Assembly (with DJ BBG) --- pics & video

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Alcest, Deafheaven, and Vaura teamed up at a sold-out Public Assembly on March 31st, the last of Alcest’s dates with Deafheaven that kicked off directly after SXSW. The bill was the perfect mix of bands that draw from metal, but don’t feel the need to be confined by its trappings: Alcest is a shoegaze band with black metal pedigree, Deafheaven is a shoegaze-y band with black metal, post-rock and screamo influences, and Vaura mixes clean vocals with everything from shoegaze to prog to black metal on their recent Selenelion. I enjoyed all of the bands that night, and apparently so did some others:

This show easily enters my God Tier of shows, no contest. All three bands performed wildly beyond my expectations to create one of my favorite live music experiences in recent memory. The only shortcomings were that the sound could have been a bit better, especially during Vaura’s set, and the loathsome hipster population both reached and exceeded critical levels* – but that’s only to be expected from a show in Williamsburg, the trendiest of Brooklyn neighborhoods. But overall, these negatives paled and withered away beneath the commanding performances of the three acts. If any one of these bands comes to your locale, do not miss out. I can’t stress that enough. -[Metalblast]

I was a spectator at the show but also played DJ for the evening, mixing in favorites that ranged from Bolt Thrower to Gauze, and from Totalitar to One Tail, One Head. You can check out my setlist at my twitter if you are so inclined. If you made it to the show, checked out the bands that night, and managed to stomach my DJ set, I can’t thank you enough.

More pictures/video from Public Assembly below.

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Vaura

Deafheaven

Alcest