DIIV return to Brooklyn, New York to cap the US portion of their world tour in support of their new album, Frog in Boiling Water. The Frog In Boiling Water World Tour commenced on June 06, 2024 and had the four-piece shoegaze band travel from Santa Cruz, California, across the country to Brooklyn, New York, with an additional set of dates in Mexico and South America, before a run of Europe dates to close out the album's touring cycle. On August 7, 2024, with support from Horse Jumper of Love and Full Body 2, DIIV bring the Frog In Boiling Water Tour to New York City.
As storm clouds envelope the City, I make my way to the newly re-opened Brooklyn Paramount, a storied venue that shuttered its doors nearly 60 years ago before re-opening earlier this year. The venue, drenched in striking baroque ornamentation with alluring stained glass windows arching across the ceiling, is mesmerizing. Indeed, the Brooklyn Paramount likely takes the crown as the nicest venue in the City.
Full Body 2
Full Body 2, a shoegaze trio consisting of Cassidy Rose Hammond, Jack Chaffer, and Dylan Vaisey from Rochester, New York, open the night with otherworldly digital soundscapes. The band's maximalist, in-your-face, tracks blend shoegaze with elements of electronica; conjuring chaos, a heavenly technological overload. Full Body 2 begin their set with "2g ether", a track that features an inviting and blaring synth lead surrounded by ethereal layers of lush synth pads, airy vocals, and distorted guitars. This track encapsulates the Full Body 2 sound–a sensory shattering atmosphere profuse with layers upon layers of shoegaze perfection.
Horse Jumper of Love
Horse Jumper of Love, a three-piece shoegaze/slowcore band from Boston, Massachusetts consisting of Dimitri Giannopoulos, John Margaris, and Jamie Vadala-Doran are second to the stage. Horse Jumper of Love are supporting DIIV on the Frog In Boiling Water Tour in advance of the release of their own newest album, Disaster Trick, which is due to be released on August 16, 2024. A contrast to Full Body 2's maximalist tendencies, Horse Jumper of Love bring a slower, calming vibe to the bill. Their set features a triad of their latest singles from Disaster Trick - "Snow Angel", "Wink", and most recently, "Today's Iconoclast".
DIIV
No strangers to the neighborhood, DIIV consists of Zachary Cole Smith, Andrew Bailey, Colin Caulfield, and Ben Newman. They bring their hypnotic shoegaze and post-punk sensibilities, aptly described on some occasions as "stonergaze", back to where it all started: Brooklyn, New York. DIIV continue to flourish; opening their set with "In Amber", the first track from Frog in Boiling Water. The song sets the tone for the evening; spotlighting DIIV's signature sound that tirelessly shines through with every release. DIIV's set spans each of their albums, from their 2012 debut Oshin to 2016's Is The Is Are to 2019's Deceiver; including an energetic performance of "Under the Sun" from 2016's Is The Is Are that featured an extended breakdown, followed by a beefy performance of "Doused" from 2012's Oshin which features a prominent, thumping bass line as it's nucleus. A hometown show, DIIV effortlessly immerse the Brooklyn Paramount in a hazy, entrancing atmosphere for their 90-minute performance.
It's fitting that the US portion of DIIV's The Frog In Boiling Water World Tour comes to a close with a hometown show. After a month's long break, DIIV are back on the road, taking The Frog in Boiling Water Tour to Mexico and South America before a run of European dates to close out the album's touring cycle. In spite of their struggles, DIIV have become masters of their craft and are at their best on The Frog in Boiling Water Tour.
