The rising New York band brought shoegaze & post-punk bliss to San Diego
One of the big indie rock breakthrough stories of 2024 has been the rise of New York City band Been Stellar, who conjure a dreamy and hypnotizing blend of post-punk, garage, and shoegaze. Their debut LP Scream From New York, NY is one of the best albums of the year so far, and there’s really no telling what their ceiling may be. Currently, they’re out on tour opening for Fontaines D.C., one of the more important ascendant bands of their generation.
This past week, that tour rolled through SOMA, located in San Diego’s Midway district, and Been Stellar made a stunning impression on the crowd of mostly Fontaines fans – most of whom were experiencing them for the first time. In a tight 40-minute set, the band managed to play most of that recent record, delivering an emphatic display of pummeling rhythms, shimmering guitars, and hypnotic vocal performances – demonstrating a level of talent and ambition well beyond their years. Look for them to continue their ascent in the coming years. You can scroll through the photos below for highlights from San Diego.