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Biography
WHOM
Known early as a poster-wraith for notorious, joyous, tortured and free boys, girls and their fellow travelers, the first two albums by Perfume Genius consisted largely of exquisite and cruelly abbreviated songs seemingly sung in the dark at a piano with all the silences left in. The previously most recent album, 2014's Too Bright, stepped out saucily onto a bigger stage, expressing, with the production help of Adrian Utley, emotions arranged all along the slippery continuum from rage to irony to love. Now here we have seized the vocabulary of the full expression of all music.
WHAT IS THIS
Here in 13 ferocious and sophisticated tracks, Mike Hadreas and his collaborators blow through church music, makeout music, an array of the gothier radio popular formats, rhythm and blues, art pop, krautrock, queer soul, the RCA Studio B sound, and then also collect some of the sounds that only exist inside Freddy Krueger. Tremolo on the electric keys. Nightclubbing. Daywalking. Peter Greenawaying, Springsteening, Syreetaing.
WHY
Luridness was a quality of music in the 1960s that is mostly since shunned. The big male crooners were all fiercely lurid as an expression of passion or lustiness or general dickability. That's something perfect to take back. You took us to church and told us to believe in ghosts. You took us to school and told us to believe in the great American project of inclusion. Instead we started fucking to the great American project of rock and roll. There's more than one sexy soul song here. Seduction is also spellcraft. Rock and roll was an incantation, a beg to give it up baby. It's not that different from begging Some Thing to not let you die when you are alone and afraid.
A QUICK BREAK ABOUT HOW
Blake Mills — the one who produced the Alabama Shakes record and who performs with John Legend — produced the record with precision and expansion. Some things are pretty and some are blasted beyond recognition. In the studio with Shawn the engineer, Mike and Blake would hear quite different voices as they worked and they built this together.
MORE ON THE TOPIC OF WHY
God is all around actually and some of these songs are about being equal and some are about the witchcraft of believing. This is church music the same way Prince's Black Album is — too dirty. It's femme art pop the way Kate Bush's The Dreaming is — too scary. Prayer is indistinguishable from OCD but feels a lot cleaner.
LIFE IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE EACH STRIVE FOR HAPPINESS
1. "I felt like when I made these other albums, people were like why are you talking about these things, and now people are going to be like, why aren't you talking about these things, because everything's so terrible. I'm never not talking about it. My life is existing in the fucking face of it. My music will always be in protest."
2. "I pay my rent. I'm approaching health. The things that are bothering me personally now are less clear, are more confusing. I don't think I really figured them out with these songs. There's something freeing about how I don't have it figured out. Unpacking little morsels, magnifying my discomfort, wading through buried harm, laughing at or digging in to the embarrassing drama of it all. I may never come out the other side but it's invigorating to try and hopefully, ultimately helpful. I think a lot of them are about trying to be happy in the face of whatever bullshit I created for myself or how horrible everything and everyone is."
3. "I can steal from people that are on the inside and act as if. I created my whole identity around never being on the inside."
LISTENING IN
Who gets to live now? That's a question up for active international debate. Lots of folks are getting a clear view into what they all think of us. When we can, we should not have to care. You should feel great listening here, even when you're sad. Our job is to find love and connection and goodness. Records like this, records that make you feel like you're 15 and just seeing the truth for the first time, are excessively rare. They're here to remind you that you're divine.
Live reviews
Mike Hadreas' touching sentiments as Perfume Genius are easily capable of ensnaring your heart and shattering your psyche. The Seattle-born singer-songwriter is an adroit purveyor of simple paeans to love and loss; his tracks may be barebones compositions for the most part, but he's a warlock when it comes to complex, affecting lyrics.
Ambiance is an integral element of a Perfume Genius show, and in preparation for his forthcoming record, Too Bright, Hadreas is toying with light and dark. Smoke billows from the stage, spotlights slice through the bitter darkness, and crooning with beguiling precision is Hadreas, appearing as if an ambiguous entity of angelic or demonic proportions. He may be here to soothe agonies with glasslike remedies, or he might be around to stuff your chest cavity with C4 and wryly tap the detonator. Performing with a band, to elevate the sound and pace, Hadreas' shows tend to find him perched behind his piano, much like James Blake, serenading a solemn crowd from behind the ivories. Eyes closed, it's not uncommon to find him lost within the perfection of the moment. A Perfume Genius show, peppered with tracks like “Hood”, “All Waters” and “Dark Parts”, may not be a happy affair, but it will be a life-changing one.
Perfume Genius held an account to the flawlessness of pain when transferred to artistic expression. The music off the new album was a performance art piece in my eyes, which struck me even more, besides the older, very personal & emotionally charged music. Nothing that I could write now could even come close to what it felt like. But it sounded like raw disillusion and complete empowerement over the awareness of being completely disillusioned. And therefore free. The sweetest freedom. You'd have to listen, as he plainly says; to all of the violence, brashness, shatteredness; you'd have to just listen and I think it would change you. Pain is flawless and is power.
I saw Perfume Genius back in December of 2011. They opened for Beirut, one of my favorite bands. I had never heard of them before, but I was absolutely floored by their performance. Beautiful vocals, surreal instrumentals, and even the lighting was just perfect. I remember going home after the concert and downloading some of the songs I heard, along with sending links to my friends. Overall, my experience at that concert was heightened so much more by the wonderful opening act that was Perfume Genius.
I am afraid to write anything about this show because I am so overwhelmed by how magical it was that I will only sound like an idiot. I have all the feels and it changed my life. Mike Hadreas does every song you want and does not hold back in any way.
You probably should not go if you want to remain closed and cynical. Don't go if you want to keep pretending you are unmoved, that you don't care about anything. Don't go if you are cool.
Go only if you love love.
Amazing show in a great intimate venue.......just loved it. His voice and songs evoke such emotion. Loved that his playlist was from all 3 albums which are spectacular. Angelic and touching 'Lookout Lookout' to ballsy and sexy 'Queen' and 'Grid'. So so glad I caught his gig......massive fan of his mesmerizing performance.
Incredible show, full of vibrant, fluid and emotional energy. Mike and his team balance raw power audio with sequences of vulnerability, sometimes simultaneously. Mike's stage presence further develops on what is already an incredible audio experience.
Perfume Genius was fantastic!! I had never seen them live before but they did not disappoint. The band was on point and Mike was such an amazing performer. What a show!! Will try to catch them again at every opportunity.
saw them open for Florence in Chicago 2018 they were fantastic during the show i didn't know who they were even tho i had heard their sound before never gonna forget that show or Florence for that matter
Perfume Genius was great, but there were annoying technical problems at the Monk Club in Roma that influenced the delicate atmosphere that he is so able to create. Nothing tragic but annoying.
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Perfume Genius tour dates and tickets 2026-2027 near you
Want to see Perfume Genius in concert? Find information on all of Perfume Genius’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2026-2027.
Perfume Genius is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 15 concerts across 2 countries in 2026-2027. View all concerts.