On Monday the 20th of October, San Fran had the honour of hosting international touring act Freak Slug for her Big Candles tour, supported by Eveline Breaker.
Despite it being a Monday night, Cuba Street quickly filled with Freak Slug fans right on the dot at 7:00 p.m. As someone who usually avoids arriving before the first act, I was pleasantly surprised to see a crowd of well-organised enthusiasts already grabbing beers and preparing for the show ahead.
Eveline Breaker, as the opening act, was a sparkle of individuality and creativity in a world of the same‑same indie bands. Using the stage as their theatre, the young musician lay, sat, and mimed through the alternative dream-pop sound and backing tracks with full commitment, taking us on a journey. The highlight was the carefully crafted backing track, complete with a white-noise intermission, which kept us enthralled and longing for the next tune. There were plenty of head bops in the crowd as we watched, entranced.
After a restless half hour, Freak Slug arrived on stage. Starting strong with “Ya Ready”, the band emerged from darkness, opening with a chordal strum and a slow build-up. The group was incredibly tight and professional, with everyone captivated by Xenya herself. Apart from a few small lighting hiccups, my favourite being when she laughed, “We can’t see for shit!”, the rest of the show ran smoothly and dynamically. Highlights included hit single “Radio”, with everyone singing along, their femme version of Joy Division’s “Disorder”, and my personal favourite, “Be Your Girl.” Later in the set, the songs took a darker turn, revealing the punk angst of “Killer” and “Spells”. Throughout the performance, Xenya’s British charm was contagious. The band’s skill at enhancing each song with vocal techniques, like whistling, clapping intricate rhythms, and playing together in perfect sync, made the show truly unforgettable.
In a sea of old and new, glittery-costumed fans, Freak Slug proved to be an artist truly for her community and fanbase. I was impressed that, immediately after the show, she and the band hopped off stage and perched at their merch table, ready to take photos and chat with every fan who wanted to. As an international act, they could have easily left the venue after the performance, but this gesture showed their dedication to making their music about the people listening and revealed genuine character.
Overall, Freak Slug delivered a performance and set that worked brilliantly. The fluctuations between major and minor moods showcased the artist’s full ability to convey a range of emotions, with the rest of the band perfectly matching her pace. I also always love seeing a female drummer! There were a few minor volume hiccups, no fault of the band, which I suspect were the result of last-minute soundcheck adjustments. As a closing thought, I would watch Freak Slug perform again and again, and never grow bored.
Words By Kloey Shaw
Photo By Evie Thomson