Being. Deliver a Dazzling Night at The Portland Public House February 9, 2019 (Concert Review)

BEING. took the stage at Kingsland’s Portland Public House and barely 15 seconds had passed before the crowd was in the palm of their collective hand. They’ve been described as ‘melancholy indie surf pop’, and I was pleasantly taken aback by how effortless and natural their performance is. The intimacy of the venue adds to the performance, with lead singer and guitarist Jasmine Balmer casually gesturing to latecomers without missing a beat.

When Balmer addresses the small crowd, she mentions this is the first time this particular trio of musicians have performed together. I realise without any doubt we’re witnessing pure and unmeasurable talent in front of us, and I struggle to convince myself that I’m attending a free gig at a bar in Kingsland.

Their third song, Lucy, is followed by another brief address to the audience before diving into, Wasting Away, which receives a strong applause before the crowd falls humble and silent to Balmer’s spoken word poetry. I can’t tell if this is the end of Wasting Away, or the beginning of the next, Maybe I’m a Friend, as the only indicator of track separation is the briefest of pauses by the band and another round of grateful applause.

Their last song, Count Me In, showcases the full power of Balmer’s voice and energy of the supporting musicians, a phenomenal display of range, emotion, and her ability to hold a crowd of various ages and attention spans together. Count Me In ends with a high-tempo thrashing on lead guitar and drums tied together by the effortless bass present throughout the set. All of the songs performed by BEING. veer toward surf-rock while refusing to stick themselves into a specific genre – the often-used description mentioned earlier now seems like the greatest act of brevity and restraint in describing their sound – one that simply must be experienced to be understood.

Afterwards, with the band breaking down their gear and the bassist preparing to leave for another gig, I approach the trio and thank them for such an amazing performance. It’s a testament to the professionalism and genuine nature of Balmer and her fellow musicians that she takes the time to talk with equal humility and positivity, while insisting on saying goodbye to her bandmates before returning to talk with the energised crowd.

It’s worth noting that The Portland Public House is a surprisingly great place to see a gig. The stage setup is seamless from the rest of the space, and the venue as a whole evokes the feeling of every too-cool American university bar you’ve never been to.

Oxford Lamoureaux