Nov 12

Nov 12 Review: Beach Fossils + Being Dead at Eulogy

The folks at Burial Beer Co. sure do love Beach Fossils.

Over the years, the Brooklyn band has played multiple events hosted by the beloved local brewery and even collaborated on a special tangerine ale dubbed Nothing In Between.

That mutual admiration continued on Nov. 6 when the lo-fi dreamgazers packed out Eulogy with support from labelmates Being Dead. For the occasion, Burial even stocked limited-edition Beach Fossils and Bayonet Records collaborative brews behind the bar — and I’d be lying if I claimed that I didn’t have a few.

As the crowd filled in, Being Dead set the tone for the night with a delightfully exuberant performance. Much like the Austin trio’s appearance at The Grey Eagle back in April, the set leaned heavily on their outstanding 2024 release, Eels. As fun as that earlier show was, the energy in a packed Eulogy pushed things to another level, and the band clearly fed off it. For anyone who showed up unfamiliar with Being Dead, it must have felt like stumbling onto something special — a reminder of why you should never skip the opener.

Although Being Dead’s bouncy set nearly stole the show, Beach Fossils more than lived up to their headlining status, filling the room with a shimmering, expansive sound. When frontman Dustin Payseur first introduced the project in 2010, the band quickly became one of the defining names of the jangly lo-fi dream-pop revival, channeling somewhat forgotten British acts like Chapterhouse, Pale Saints, and 14 Iced Bears. But unlike many of their peers, Beach Fossils has steadily evolved, refining their sound and embracing cleaner production that showcases Payseur’s songwriting. It’s fair to argue that their 2023 album Bunny is their strongest work yet.

Now far enough removed from that record cycle, the quartet delivered a career-spanning set tailor-made for longtime fans — including a personal favorite, “(Just Like The) Setting Sun.” It was easy to get swept away in the breezy euphoria of the band’s reverb-soaked tunes, which sounded as powerful as I’ve ever heard them.

Got FOMO yet? Don't worry: With Payseur’s family living nearby and Burial’s ongoing love affair with the band, it’s safe to say Asheville won’t have to wait long for their next visit.

(Photos by Jonny Leather)