From her bedroom-pop beginnings to her commanding presence on larger stages, Filipino-British indie-rock artist beabadoobee has continued to evolve as a musician and performer. Her breakout single, “Coffee,” released in 2017, later found a wider audience when it was sampled in Powfu’s hit “Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head),” which reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her fourth studio album, Pylon, released Sept. 18, marked another milestone, reaching No. 1 on the UK Official Albums Chart and a career-high No. 7 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first top 10 album in the United States. Her Oct. 10 performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion demonstrated how far she has come, transforming her intimate, nostalgic sound into a production suited to a venue of this scale.
The evening began at 8pm with a heavy, atmospheric set from Wisp, the San Francisco-based shoegaze project of Natalie R. Lu. A prominent figure in the social media-driven “Zomergaze” movement, Wisp blends the sounds of ’90s alternative rock and grunge with delicate, airy vocals.
With most of the stage dimly lit, apart from occasional ambient flashes and individual lights illuminating the musicians, the emphasis remained firmly on the music. The atmospheric arrangements and layered guitars sounded excellent, even to someone less familiar with the genre. The audience roared after each song, responding particularly enthusiastically to Wisp’s viral breakout single, “Your Face.”
Before departing, Wisp thanked the audience and remarked that every show on the tour had been her biggest yet. Her brief interactions with the crowd revealed a comfortable, engaging stage presence that should serve her well as she continues to reach larger audiences.
Watch the official music video for “Your Face” by Wisp on YouTube:
During the changeover, the stage underwent a dramatic transformation. First came a massive electric pylon positioned on the left side, followed by a streetlight and vintage phone booth on the right. The elaborate set brought the imagery of Pylon to life before beabadoobee had even appeared.
As her set began, the venue plunged into darkness. Soft lights gradually illuminated the stage, accompanied by an electric buzzing sound as the band members took their positions. Beabadoobee emerged and immediately launched into the punchy, explosive “Sun Has Set.”
The gritty, grunge-inspired guitars filled the pavilion with an intensity that was palpable even from the soundboard, far from the front of the pit.
The momentum continued through fan favorites such as “10:36” and “Apple Cider,” but the performance revealed its greatest emotional depth during the quieter, more vulnerable moments.
Midway through the set, the heavy distortion faded, leaving beabadoobee alone onstage with her acoustic guitar. Her performance of “Coffee,” the lo-fi track that helped launch her career, brought a striking sense of intimacy to the expansive venue.
That acoustic interlude transitioned seamlessly into “Pylon,” the title track from her new album. Beginning softly and gradually building in intensity, the song culminated in a powerful, guitar-driven release during its closing minute.
The stage production added another dimension to the performance. During “Powerlines,” beabadoobee climbed the towering mock electrical pylon and delivered the emotional song from above the stage, surrounded by vibrant lighting.
Watch the official lyric video for “Powerlines” by beabadoobee on YouTube:
The theatricality continued during “Satellite,” when the vintage payphone onstage began to ring. Beabadoobee answered it and sang the entire first verse through the receiver, incorporating the prop directly into the performance.
The main set concluded with “In Motion,” which brought the production to its most explosive moment. The pylon’s transformers appeared to burst, sending cables falling around the band as the music reached its climax.
Following enthusiastic chants for an encore, beabadoobee returned for a more stripped-back finale, opening with a solo acoustic rendition of “The Way Things Go.”
Between songs, she reflected on the challenges of touring an album written partly about how difficult touring can be. She also thanked longtime listeners and newer fans for attending.
The encore included the unreleased “Lemon to My Lime” before closing with the soaring chords of “Beaches,” from her 2024 album This Is How Tomorrow Moves.
By the end of the night, beabadoobee had demonstrated how effectively her intimate songwriting could translate to a much larger setting. The combination of vulnerable acoustic moments, forceful guitar arrangements, and imaginative stagecraft made for a performance that felt both personal and expansive.
beabadoobee Setlist
1. Sun Has Set
2. 10:36
3. Apple Cider
4. Radio
5. All I Did Was Dream of You
6. Take a Bite
7. Care
8. Coffee
9. Pylon
10. Pictures of Us
11. The Road
12. Memories
13. Glue Song
14. The Perfect Pair
15. Powerlines
16. Nothing to Prove
17. Write Me a Letter
18. Satellite
19. Post
20. It’s Alright
21. Talk
22. Switchblade
23. She Plays Bass
24. Cologne
25. In Motion
Encore
26. The Way Things Go
27. Lemon to My Lime
28. Beaches
Wisp Setlist
1. Enough for You
2. Pandora
3. Guide Light
4. Serpentine
5. Sword
6. Once Then We’ll Be Free
7. Butterflies
8. All I Need
9. Your Face
Here are some photos of beabadoobee performing live at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Oct. 10, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Caden Forrester.
Here are some photos of Wisp performing live at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Oct. 10, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Caden Forrester.
