Live Report: Weyes Blood @ The Button Factory

2019 is Weyes Blood's year. Her stunning breakthrough album Titanic Rising came out in January, but it still feels like it dropped yesterday. Last night we finally had the chance to hear those songs live as she kicked off the European leg of her tour with a sold-out show at Dublin's Button Factory. It would suffice to say she delivered one of the best shows of the year, brilliantly reproducing the cinematic songs of her latest record.

Before she even played the first song, I could feel myself being transported to the submerged world of Titanic Rising's album cover thanks to the stage-lights that drenched our surroundings in a deep blue, which contrasted beautifully against orange lights that Weyes Blood's band brought to the stage themselves. From here, things only got more surreal.

Pressed right up against the barrier, I was amongst the most enthusiastic of Weyes Blood fans, and within arms length of Natalie Mering herself. Then it began, the opening piano chords of 'A Lots Gonna Change' ushered in a feeling of ecstasy, and we were on our way. Mering's sweeping vocals were pitch-perfect, even as they reached operatic heights. With a little help from her talented backing band, the Weyes Blood experience had me transported out of reality from song one.

Weyes Blood continued to punch her way through cuts off Titanic Rising, with one particular highlight being a jaunting little number entitled, 'Everyday.' Song after song, Mering's vocals soared and left me repeatedly dropping my jaw. Arguably the best moment of the night was her rendition of 'Something to Believe.' A fan favorite, Weyes Blood took the song to new heights with knock-out performances all around.

After finishing the show off with the back-to-back hits 'Andromeda' and 'Movies,' Mering returned to the stage for a triumphant encore. The final song of which left Mering alone on stage, just her and acoustic guitar playing an early Weyes Blood cut, 'In the Beginning.' Ending the show on such an intimate moment wrapped the experience up perfectly. When the music stopped, I had to take a minute to wake myself up from my dream and return to reality. Plain and simple, Weyes Blood has proven herself one of the most compelling acts of 2019.