Walking into The Fillmore on a sold-out night is a special kind of thrill. You know you’re about to take part in a San Francisco tradition, trying your luck at what your free Fillmore poster will be and who designed it. It turned out pretty cool in fact: folk art tulips and foppish block lettering in delicate Easter pastels. It fit the mood in that uncanny Fillmore way, soft on the surface, full of intention underneath.
The opener, Urika’s Bedroom, was hands down the most surprising, put-together, and tight AF live band I’ve seen in a long time. I hesitate to overhype, but the thought looped through my head all night, and I’m just gonna say it:
“If this band keeps it together, if they keep playing and growing and staying true to this sound, then honestly, Mark Kozelek can stay wherever he is hiding. Urika’s Bedroom could be the spiritual successor to Red House Painters, and give the remaining members something truly worthwhile to come see.”
Urika’s Bedroom, for context, is a relatively new Bay Area-based band that formed in early 2023 and has been crafting a reputation for clean, emotionally driven guitar work, airtight rhythm shifts, and lyrics that feel pulled from journals. They haven’t put out much recorded work yet; a few lo-fi demos float online, but live is clearly where they breathe fire.
Their sound is a real-time journey bare-bones emo roots wrapped in Catherine Wheel guitar overlays, with shimmering stretches that felt like Jimmy Eat World deep cuts, only to crash into elongated, gritty Crazy Horse freakouts. I honestly don’t know what their recordings will sound like yet, but I plan to find out. What I can say: the vocals were vibrant and locked in, the vibe was immediate, and this was no fluke. They’re the real thing. GO SEE THEM.
Then came Perfume Genius, and it was clear from the first note that this wasn’t going to be a whispery art-pop set. This was a rock show driven, expansive, and emotionally tuned. Every time I see Perfume Genius, the band gets more intimate and more experimental. There’s a real ongoing evolution in their live show. They keep reaching for more tension, more space, more connection. That made them the perfect pairing with Urika’s Bedroom.
The show supported the new record, Glory. While the album may come off soft in places, as much of Hadreas’ work often implies, the live performance revealed its rawer side. The sound was perfectly mixed: lush where it needed to be, jagged when it counted. This band has fully come into itself. The set unfolded with confidence and care. And the crowd was right there, hanging on every pulse.
Of course, “Queen” arrived at the end and completely washed the room in its sashay glory. It’s still an anthem. Always will be. But the surprise of the night was a slow, droning, twee version of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” It felt like an offering, an act of love for the dream-pop lineage, and a quiet nod to Berkeley legends Hope Sandoval and co.
This was one of those nights that felt cohesive from top to bottom. Everything worked. The openers stunned. The headliner soared. The venue glowed. And I’ll be at the next one, no doubt.
