Pioneering British shoegaze band Slowdive made some of the biggest music news of 2014 when they reunited for a tour after nearly 20 years apart, and they continue to send indie rock fans over the moon whenever they perform their lush, atmospheric brand of dream pop in concert. Critics originated the term "shoegaze" in the '90s as a derogatory way to describe bands' lackluster stage presence, but Slowdive discredits the label every time they take the stage, turning out powerful performances that teem with electric energy and stylish showmanship. Dual singers/guitarists Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead trade off vocal duties, wrapping their soaring, reverb-soaked melodies in a gorgeous sonic wall of guitar textures that totally envelopes audiences. Meanwhile the rhythm section sets a relaxed groove with smooth basslines and unadorned drumming that lets the band's guitar-driven atmospherics shine. As they captivate crowds with chimerical favorites like "Shine" and "When the Sun Hits", Slowdive gives the impression that the two decades they spent apart had never passed, treating ticket buyers to a totally immersive concert experience that proves shoegaze remains as vibrant as ever.

BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:

Slowdive was formed in Reading, England in 1989 by singers/guitarists Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead, who named the band after a song by British post-punk act Siouxsie and the Banshees. After putting together a demo tape and playing shows, the group signed to Creation Records and released a self-titled EP in 1990. The record garnered rave reviews from NME, and the band followed up in 1991 with two more EPs that further put them on the map thanks to stellar songs like "Catch the Breeze", which topped the UK indie chart. The expectations these early EPs set for their full-length debut proved hard to meet--Slowdive's 1991 debut full-length Just for a Day received mixed reviews, despite landing at No. 3 on the UK indie charts. Their 1993 sophomore effort Souvlaki fared similarly, failing to impress critics even as the band's loyal cult following continued to grow. As shoegaze's popularity was eclipsed by Britpop and American alternative rock in the mid-'90s, Slowdive called it quits following the 1995 release of their third album Pygmalian. Over the next 20 years, critics revisited the band's three albums favorably, and today their early '90s output is considered among the best of the decade. Since reuniting in early 2014 for their first major tour in nearly two decades, Slowdive has floored fans with career-spanning performances while keeping hopes alive for the possibility of a return to the studio.