Alan Dearling shares some of the moments…
From San Francisco, Pink Breath of Heaven provided a loud slice of modern psychedelia at Dark Matter’s sold out gig upstairs in the Golden Lion music venue, located alongside the canal in Todmorden. Kristan Reed on-line calls it “…a righteous noise.”
Having been around in the 1960s, I can vouch that the band ooze ‘authenticity’, along with an original sound. They build up layer-upon-layer of tinkling, jangling guitars, with furious drum beats, tambourine, and at times a formidable bass line. Above it all, Liv Field’s almost disembodied, echoing voice floats amidst delay effects. It creates a cacophony of striking effects. Shimmering sonic blasts of light.
It’s really rather unsettling, as is much of the material on their album, ‘Colors make a Sound’. The excess of ‘layerings of sound’, which implodes almost into complete overload is kind of strange. For me it is compelling, and the mix works in the way it pounds the listener into some sort of submission.
Live, they have a presence that must be the envy of some of their peers on the Heavy-Psych circuit. My mate Tony was at the gig and was well impressed. He thought that he could discern elements of the sounds previously employed by the Cocteau Twins, Catherine Wheel and early Grace Slick (of Great Society and Jefferson Airplane fame). I’d add a touch of Sisters of Mercy and maybe some little hints of Beth Gibbons/Portishead and Throbbing Gristle in amongst the heavier moments of aural mayhem.
The promo material for the gig suggested that they “… offer a reverie of shimmering guitars, haunting melodies, and introspective lyricism. The project of Liv Field and Rex John Shelverton, PBOH merges the vast textures of shoegaze with the boundless energy of modern psychedelia, crafting a world where colour and emotion intertwine.”
“With performances alongside The Dandy Warhols, LSD and the Search for God, Alison’s Halo, Ty Segall, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, the band has quickly become a compelling force within San Francisco’s evolving underground.”
Pink Breath of Heaven are on quite a major European tour, including gigs in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain and the Czech Republic.
KEXP.ORG presents Pink Breath of Heaven performing ‘The Wind Is Calling’ live at 25th Street Recording in Oakland, California, during Noise Pop 2026. Recorded February 25, 2026.
The band features: Liv Field – Vocals, Guitar; Rex Shelverton – Guitar; Marco Cataruzolo – Bass; Francesca Pevere – Tambo; Cary LaScala – Drums.
Video: ‘The Wind is Calling’ Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9oiue8CLxA
I did wonder about the name of the band. Are they named after the fragrant shrub, known as the Confetti Bush, from South Africa (Coleonema Pulchellum)?
In terms of photos, I was extremely pleased to be able to take some pics during the sound checks earlier in the evening. Later, during their set, Pink Breath of Heaven were mostly lost, enveloped in waves of smoke and quite dark, atmospheric lighting. And I found myself getting trampled on, and my view blocked, by one of the two over-enthusiastic videographers in attendance.
Support came from Callis: Kind of purveyors of heavy indie folk-rock. They look cool in ‘black’ in their promo shot! Their set seemed quite drum-led. They are evolving into quite a compelling live outfit. Quite raucous. Formed in the Pennine Calder Valley, they say that their sound “…leans into the raw tension of post-punk…think Joy Division, The Chameleons – but through a distorted lens, with heavy guitars and a gritty edge. Now with the addition of a multi-instrumentalist 4th member they have expanded their sound and sharpened their identity.”
Dean on vocals and lead guitar also enjoys his moments of Pete Towshend show-boating. And Tyler on drums makes an audacious racket. It’s all energetic and mildly eccentric.
Video: ‘Heavy Drugs’ Live in Clitheroe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3YcGCdgcQ