On October 2, Chanel Beads brought the “Your Day Will Come” tour to The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles for one of the most unique shows I’ve experienced. From the moment Shane Lavers stepped on stage, the crowd yelled. Front-row fans screamed, and a couple even cried.
The show began with nearly three minutes of noises, fragmented instruments, and atmospheric sounds before the band fully launched into the set. It was a unique opening, but it worked perfectly, creating a beautiful and ethereal atmosphere before the first song even began. It set the stage for the night.
If you know Chanel Beads, you know the music is hard to pin down to a specific genre. Lavers, the project’s primary songwriter and musician, builds songs from unusual sounds, textures, and stems. Hearing them performed live made all those little moments feel even more powerful. The five-piece band was incredibly loud, and you could physically feel every instrument throughout the room. These songs are meant to be heard live.
Shane’s vocals were just as strong, if not stronger, than on the studio recordings. Maya Collette, a collaborator and vocalist, also had her moments throughout the set to help lead vocals. Her voice filled the room and added another layer to the performance.
The crowd knew the songs just as well. Fans sang along throughout the set, with “Dust in the Wind,” “Tyler Richard,” and “Embarrassed Dog” among my personal favorite moments.
As a photographer, I wanted to capture the feeling of listening to Chanel Beads. You don’t often see Lavers’ face clearly, and the project has a sense of mystery and obscurity throughout. I tried to bring that same feeling into the photographs through silhouettes, blacked-out faces, and heavy backlighting.
The lighting at The Fonda made photographing this show both challenging and fitting. The stage was very dark and backlit, but that darkness matched the mood of the songs. Instead of always looking for perfectly lit faces, I focused on shadows, shapes, and small moments of light.
I’ve been a fan of Chanel Beads for the past two years, and seeing them live was worth the wait. The combination of the massive sound, unique instruments, and dark atmosphere made the show feel like a true extension of the music itself.
Keep Up With Chanel Beads:
Website / Instagram / Spotify / Bandcamp / YouTube
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