Lift gets tricky when you’re breaking curses from another life… These words from the song, “Reproductive” off the new Shamir album, Heterosexuality, being released this week, are personal but after everything leading up to its release could be speaking of something more universal. Heterosexuality is an amazing record and really showcases Shamir’s immense talent — from the opening “Gay Agenda” with its distorted drums and a voice that cuts through to exclaim, “You’re just stuck in the box that was made for me / And you’re mad I got out and I’m living free” to the closer, the aforementioned, “Reproductive,” which Shamir opened with at the 9:30 Club recently, opening for Courtney Barnett.

It’s been way too long since I had seen Shamir perform, though there’s been no shortage of songs, having release two albums in 2020 alone — Cataclysm, and the self-titled Shamir — so I was thrilled to hear he’d be performing in DC again.

Watch the official music video for “Cisgender” by Shamir on YouTube:

Taking the stage, Shamir noted the kismet in the billing — “We are both left handed Scorpios” — before beginning with “Reproductive” which started off slow but took off. It has to be said that the Shamir’s three-piece band was incredible!

On the all-too-short set, Shamir and company went from one of my favorite’s, “Diet,” laden with pop hooks to “Other Side” that started off with a scream and going from a punk-tinged garage rock to a shuffling country beat. An incredible set that warms things up for the new album coming out this week.

The setlist included:

Reproductive
Diet
Other Side
On My Own
Tears Fall In Euphoria
Cisgender

Here are some photos of Shamir performing at the 9:30 Club Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. All photos copyright and courtesy of David LaMason.