On the spookiest night of the year, the iconic Hollywood Bowl dawned devil horns as indie supergroup boygenius hosted a sold-out crowd for Halloween, the last show of their tour. The trio, comprised of Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers, dressed up as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with the supporting band members dressed up as angels. Halfway through the show, Bridgers’ dog, Maxine, also appeared as the Lamb of God.

The outfits also consisted of details that weren’t as noticeable unless you were up close. Bridgers’ Holy Ghost sparkled in the spotlight and was equipped with a veil that I wish she kept on for more of the show. Baker’s Jesus wore a gold crown of thorns with glitter tears that went well with her moments of screaming. The Father, Dacus, was in a decorated white suit with her own golden halo.

The setlist consisted of the band’s entire discography, including songs off of their recent EP “the rest.” At the start of “Letter to an Old Poet,” Bridgers spoke to the audience about how much it meant to her to perform the songs and asked everyone to put their phones away. In an emotional performance, Phoebe walked around the pool circle and touched hands with those in the pits. I witnessed Bridgers hold a guy’s hand for an extra moment longer, which caused him to pause in disbelief for a few seconds, staring at his hand.

When it came to the sound, the Hollywood Bowl’s acoustics never let me down. As a student press photographer, I felt blessed to receive access to the pit for a few songs. “$20” and “True Blue” were incredible to hear live and up close. Being surrounded by all of the lights and sounds, combined with the rush of seeing them come out on stage, is a feeling I won’t forget. I only wish the photos could have captured the euphoria I felt at that moment. For the rest of the show, I went back to my seat after visiting an empty merch line, with the extra cost of missing “Cool About It.” 

I found the entire show to be visually stunning. The whole Bowl changed colors for each of the songs, and the sound of the drum kicks had their own effect through each of the rings. The massive screen was filled with acid trip projections of each of the members throughout the show, with television screens slowly being introduced throughout the set leading up to “Not Strong Enough.” 

Following “Not Strong Enough,” the trio vanished offstage, reappearing at the upper section of the stadium. They performed the songs off “the rest,” including “Black Hole,” which led to the incredible visual of the trio being surrounded by lights all the way up the amphitheater’s sections, and giving those in the nosebleeds a better view. 

After returning to the main stage, the three took turns performing their own renditions of each other’s songs; Dacus covered Baker’s “Good News,” Baker did Bridgers’ “Motion Sickness,” and Bridgers belted Dacus’s “Night Shift.” The show unfortunately ended soon after, closing with “Salt in The Wound.” 

Boygenius truly shines when it comes to their on-stage synergy, as the three artists orbit around each other and seamlessly unite, especially when it comes to performing each other’s songs. Listening to “Night Shift” after the performance always reminds me of Dacus jamming on guitar and Bridgers coming over to sing with her. 

The Hollywood Bowl as a venue is definitely a trek for any UC San Diego student looking to attend, especially making a trip up on a weekday during midterm season. While the car ride was several hours, it gave me and my friend plenty of time to bond over boygenius and just any conversation we felt like having. There are also plenty of public transit options, so you could get work done on the way up if you’re pressed for time.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Photos by Alexander Olsen for the UCSD Guardian