Glass Beams Provides a Majestic Performance

It was a standard Tuesday night for many, but for fans who descended on the iconic Majestic Theatre in Madison to catch the Glass Beams show, it was a groundbreaking experience.

Glass Beams, the project conceived by Indian-Australian multi-instrumentalist Rajan Silva, has made waves in the psychedelic rock sector over the last few years. The remaining group members remain anonymous, which seems to add to their overall mystique. Their EP release, Mirage, came out in 2021, followed by their second EP, Mahal, which truly spearheaded their popularity. Fans of Khruangbin and BALTHVS find themselves right at home in the grooves of their musical flow. Their show in Madison was their first performance in Wisconsin, and they certainly made a memorable first impression.

As fans funneled into the Majestic, the opener, Maiah Manser, sauntered on to the stage. The audience was immediately captivated by her ethereal vocal and instrumental combination. As a one woman show, she expertly delivered gorgeous vocal range and instrumental overlays using little more than a midi keyboard and a looping pedal.

Somehow, I found myself thinking of Fiona Apple as she performed. Though the genre was vastly different, her tone and lyrics were sensual, haunting, and strong-willed. I was sincerely impressed by the breadth and cadence of her musical abilities, and her confidence with crowd work was also right on the mark. She proved to be an excellent teaser for the headlining performance.

Before Glass Beams began their set, the smell of Palo Santo wafted through the air as one of the crew members proceeded to sage the stage. It set the tone for their music in a myriad of ways, clearly symbolizing the direct impact and importance of incorporating grounded energy into their performance. It seemed to emphasize just how much weight each performance carries for them, making it feel like a nearly spiritual experience for both the band and the crowd.

As they arrived on stage, their renowned visual aesthetics were striking. They are known for wearing intricate, bejeweled masks and muted colors while performing to keep the focus centered on the music itself and maintain a sense of mystery. This, combined with their quiet confidence, defined the pace of the performance ahead.

They opened with their signature track, “Mahal”, which was an instant crowd pleaser. As someone who had mercilessly had their songs playing on repeat for the last several months, I felt immediately pulled into the pulse of the show. Their sound was set up meticulously and perfectly weaved into the backdrop of the venue. If I had to pick one venue in Madison for them to perform at, the Majestic absolutely hit the mark. It made the experience feel uniquely alive and intimate all at once.

As they transitioned into “Orb”, it was clear they put a great deal of thought into keeping the trademark tone of their tracks intact while also adding a slight improvisational tone. Though they added some variance to their sound for their live performance, they stayed true to the ambiance that the jam-packed crowd had gathered there for. Their music was as transcendent as it was connective. Looking around at the members of the crowd, each coming from all unique walks of life, they all seemed to find themselves entranced by the music.

If given another opportunity to see them perform live, I will certainly be doing so. The band didn’t speak a word during their entire set, and quite frankly, they didn’t need to; their music absolutely spoke for itself.

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

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