Album Review: Kim Deal - 'Live at the Barbican'

March 1, 2025, legendary musician Kim Deal hosted a show at London’s iconic Barbican with orchestral accompaniment. Deal played songs from her latest solo LP Nobody Loves You More, and tracks from her fantastic discography of solo work and hits from The Breeders. Truthfully, I’m absolutely here for it! I had a chance to catch Deal live once at Austin City Limits Music Festival a couple of years back and it was an unforgettable experience. Live at the Barbican drops this Friday wherever you get your music.

Deal was accompanied by an orchestra and Shards choir for this one. Also, her band included a virtual who’s who of musicians including a band composed of Mando Lopez (The Breeders), Susan Voelz (Poi Dog Pondering), Lindsay Glover, Nick White (Phoebe Bridgers), and Rob Bochnik (The Frames), as well as special guest Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub).

The LP opens with “Nobobdy Loves You More” which is the title track from her last solo LP. Truthfully something just hits different hearing Deal’s hushed vocals when they’re accompanied by a full orchestra. There’s something about how expressive her vocals are that move so well with the movements found in ochestral sounds. The song picks up in a big way at about the 1:50 mark, i.e. halfway through the song.

Across eighteen tracks, Deal and company absolutely dominate on the Barbican stage. There are highlights all over this one. “Coast” is great in the way Deal’s vocals soar with horns and guitars. I truly loved the stripped back “Beautiful Moon” which opens with Deal and an acoustic guitar, which slowly works in some subtle string work, about a third of the way through. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention “Safari”, a track from The Breeders. Which Deal absolutely dominates on vocals. The guitar is booming on this one and the horns are to die for.

Live at The Barbican is a fun one with renditions of Deal’s solo work and some of her catalog with The Breeders. Hearing it with the orchestra accompanying it is just such a new and frankly cool experience for someone that’s been a fan as long as I have. If you’re remotely a fan of Deal’s or are into good alt, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Rating - 8/10