Live Shot: Siren Suki Waterhouse enchants the Domain
Picnic blankets flooded the lawn of the Domain on Mar. 4 in a restful break from the chaos of weekend shopping. There’s a sudden lull in the chaos when a glittering fog of synthesizers, velvety guitar riffs and stuttering drumlines flood the venue. Even those seated outdoors in the surrounding restaurants had to take a break from their dinners to listen to the hypnotic, honeyed vocals of Suki Waterhouse.
“I have never played to this many people before,” said Waterhouse as she turned to the side of the Italian restaurant Taverna. “I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner!”
A resounding “no!” from the crowd, eager to hear the London native perform for the first time since her 2022 tour, followed by a watch party for her new show, Daisy Jones & The Six.
The British blondeshell seems to have strutted out of a time machine from a bygone era with her hazy coming-of-age dream pop. Performing “Johanna,” a sparkly 80s-style rumination from her sophomore album Milk Teeth, the model-turned-musician remains relatable, asking, “who am I? Couldn’t tell ya” as she succumbs to the spirit of the music, letting go and swaying in the wind while stretching her arms out to the equally possessed audience who sway with her.
Music pulses through Waterhouse like how the bass of “Devil I Know” resonates through the crowd’s hearts. The sought-after actress and enigmatic songstress leans back into the devil at every beat. Purple and white lights pulse as she laments toxic love lost, singing, “back in Hell, at least I’m comfortable.” An orchestral backtrack plays as a steadily strummed, fuzz pedal-equipped guitar and her delicate soprano vocalizations create her signature dreamy soundscape.
The LA-based artist closed the show with her viral single, “Good Looking,” a cinematically bohemian dream with exploding choruses marked by Waterhouse’s crying vocals and a dramatic jacket toss, eliciting a roaring wave of cheers from the sea of people crowding around the whimsical siren.
“The moral of the story is always to trust your instincts and trust good looking boys,” said Waterhouse.
With her parting words of wisdom, Waterhouse raised a hand heart goodbye to the crowded streets spreading her message of love.
Setlist:
Bullshit On The Internet
The Devil I Know
Moves
Neon Signs
On Your Thumb
To Love
Coolest Place in the World
Valentine
Johanna
My Mind
Slip
Put Me Through It
Nostalgia
Melrose Meltdown
Good Looking
This article was submitted as an assignment for the Music Journalism course at the Univerity of Texas at Austin taught by professor Raul Hernandez.