“my dreams always seem concerned with your well-being…i can’t seem to shake…maybe one day we’ll learn to grow separately. maybe one day i’ll grow on my own. maybe one day this piece of you inside of me will grow in a way that leaves me unobscured and determined and filled with heaven again.”
– The back of the sweatshirt I purchased at the Soft Blue Shimmer merch table
– “Strawberry Cool,” by Soft Blue Shimmer
We got to Neck of the Woods during the tail end of mofie’s set. Their drummer Morgan Fields doubles as lead singer, and my roommate and I were big fans of the two songs we stumbled into. When the opener of a four-band lineup kicks things off strongly, it’s always a good sign.
I found Kenzo Cardenas by the merch table shortly after. He drums for Soft Blue Shimmer, and we first met back in July when the band performed at Junior High in Los Angeles. We got to chatting after that show, discovered that he and the rest of the gang are from my hometown the San Fernando Valley, and he shared when they were planning to hit the bay for their upcoming tour. Jumpcut to Friday night as they took the stage in San Francisco.
Not only was this their first night of tour, but their new album Love Lives in the Body was released the very same day! Meredith Ramond (vocals and bass) took center stage, introducing herself and the band. Her energy matches the connotation of the band’s name, so the blend of her nimble, dream-like voice with two guitarists shredding like crazy and Cardenas going ham on the drums behind her is a sight to behold. I cherish the brief moments she shared with each guitarist: Charlie Crowley and Nicky Howard, who plays live with them. Whether that be knowing glances or wry smiles exchanged, the band is certainly connected. 
They’ve been making music for some time now, and I was happy to see the crowd respond to their performance with open arms. I love seeing my hometown properly represented, even more so when the group includes some combination of queerness and artists of color. Growing up, indie rock was always so overwhelmingly white and cis, whereas now I get to mosh alongside fellow multiracial, alt/goth punk heads who bleed pink, white, and blue for artists that stand in line with the same identities and ideals. Also, just getting to see creative people doing what they love never gets old for me. Ramond designs the little pins for sale at the merch table, one of which I snagged for souvenir purposes, and when speaking to her and Crowley after the set, I gathered just how much care they have put into this body of work. I asked how they were feeling, and Crowley said this night would probably end up being the highest point of tour; riding the adrenaline of debuting their new record at Neck of the Woods is their next big endeavor.
At the end of the day, Soft Blue Shimmer put on one hell of a show. They opened with “Space Heater” off their 2020 album Heaven Inches Away, which directly transitioned into “Emerald Bells.” This track comprises song lyrics to match the title of the album, likening heaven to something just inches away. Next came “Chihiro,” their most listened-to song on Spotify. It’s a beautifully written call and response discussing love lost and what once was – the perfect lead into “Burden of Desire.” Ramond begins this track with masterful delicacy, against the background of subtle instrumentals that reinforce the linguistic power of what is more poetry than anything else.
In particular, their live performance of “Love Being,” one of three singles off the album, took my breath away. Verse one alone got me hooked when I listened to it on Spotify for the first time, but hearing it live is something else entirely. “Afraid to start, scared of it ending,’ sings Meredith, ‘Stricken by the thought of you.” For me, the song pays homage to the fear of loving someone, as love comes with the risk of losing the very person you have just opened your heart to make room for.
My personal favorites off the record include “Strawberry Cool,” “A Brighter Summer,” and “End & Affection.” I’m in my hopeless romantic era, though, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt and give the album a listen for yourself. Brought to you by my talented friends from the San Fernando Valley, Love Lives in the Body is a killer dream-pop November baby, and I’m excited to follow the rest of Soft Blue Shimmer’s tour with Modern Color as they make their way back to Los Angeles.
Article and Photos by Nico Chodor