Contrary to their name, Being Dead proved they were very much alive when the group walked onto the Levitation outdoor stage before their Sunday set. Falcon Bitch’s greeting was followed by a warm, “it’s a beautiful day to be a pillar of light and love for your community,” which set the tone for the next 40 minutes of psychedelic and tender music.
Opening with the track “Muriel’s Big Day Off,” Cody Dosier on drums and vocals grinned his way right to even the coldest hearts. Speaking of hearts, Dosier couldn’t help but call out the couple swapping spit on the lawn outside Palmer Events Center before their set. But Being Dead is for lovers – mostly – so Dosier allowed the next couple to watch their set through the fence so long as they shared a kiss. Bass and kick drum reverberated through each body during the iconic, “The Great American Picnic,” the short-but-sweet track featuring swapping vocals from Dosier and Falcon Bitch.
Photo by Dina Zeid.
Early on, the band used their stage to welcome Tony Aparo of Atlanta band, Improvement Movement. Tony stole the show with his enviable wolf cut and life-altering performance on the güiro. Everyone say thank you Tony!
Another standout track was “Daydream,” a sweet meditation on passing lazy days with the ones we love. Falcon Bitch’s angelic vocals were squeaky clean as she, too, smiled her way through the set. Those of us who didn’t know bassist Nicole Roman-Johnston was celebrating her birthday that sunny Sunday let out our loudest yawps for a very happy hatch day.
Halfway through the track “Rock n’ Roll Hurts” off of their 2024 album EELS, Falcon Bitch and Dosier swapped places; Falcon Bitch moved to drums and Dosier took up the guitar. How did we pass the time, you ask? Roman-Johnston led us through a long chant of the chorus while we watched the duo settle into their new places.
Right before “Last Living Buffalo,” the trio took a few calming breaths and set internal intentions for the end of their buoyant set. The track was a highlight of the evening and such a pleasure to see live. The restrained chaos of the song warranted itself to a live setting, cementing it as a crowd favorite. Shouts from the crowd could be heard even through the best earplugs during the song’s closing screams.
We closed the set with the psychedelic “Treeland.” Roman-Johnston proudly flicked the bass, Falcon Bitch shook her blonde locks, and Dosier stared out at us as the whole trio chanted the song’s memorable “back back back” over and over. It was an abrupt song to end with, but completely on-theme for the band’s characteristic playful surrealism.
Photo by Dina Zeid.
Photo by Dina Zeid.