LOS ANGELES — Australian alternative trio Chase Atlantic continues to prove their staying power with their third studio album, Beauty in Death, released in March 2021. With the album’s success and a growing fanbase, the band wasted no time announcing a North American tour set for fall 2021—and to keep the momentum going, they returned to the virtual stage as part of The Wiltern Livestream Series.
Livestream performances are nothing new for Chase Atlantic. In early 2021, they hosted a throwback set featuring older fan favorites ahead of Beauty in Death’s release, and they previously performed a 2020 livestream focused on their second album. This latest show, however, carried a different energy—it was not just a performance but a prelude to their long-awaited return to live touring.
A Setlist Packed with New Twists on Fan Favorites
Before the show even started, fans were buzzing with excitement after Christian Anthony teased a new single on Twitter immediately after the stream was announced.
The band kicked off the set with a revamped, rock-infused version of Paranoid, the opening track of Beauty in Death. The live arrangement amplified the intensity, transforming the alternative-pop original into a heavier, more urgent performance. Lead singer Mitchel Cave’s enthusiasm was immediately evident, setting the tone for the rest of the night.
Next came WHAT U CALL THAT, a track from their 2019 EP Don’t Try This. The live version brought out an extra layer of attitude and swagger, pushing the song’s themes of recklessness and bravado to the forefront. The raw energy in this performance, likely fueled by the sheer excitement of being back on stage, was a standout moment early in the show.
Throwing it back even further, Chase Atlantic performed Into It, originally released on their 2017 Part One EP before making it onto their debut album. This version showcased a more expressive, emotionally charged delivery, with Mitchel and Christian visibly enjoying the moment—smiling throughout the set, clearly embracing the nostalgia.
Balancing Dark Themes with Hypnotic Soundscapes
Returning to Beauty in Death, the band launched into the album’s title track. The live performance blended elements of previous songs like Cassie and Heaven and Back, capturing a dreamlike detachment as it narrated themes of self-destruction, substance abuse, and materialism. As the track neared its end, Mitchel Cave’s vocals took on a slurred, dazed quality, almost mirroring the downward spiral of the character in the song.
From there, the set took a deep dive into their earlier discography, with a refined, more confrontational take on Slow Down from the Paradise EP. This version delivered a more serious, almost stern tone as the band confronted the subject’s destructive habits.
Then came a crowd-favorite from the throwback livestream: the sultry, hypnotic Swim. Of all the live renditions, this one stood out—the delivery and energy felt seamless, intoxicating, and effortlessly cool.
An Emotional Deep Dive into Mental Health Struggles
Slowing things down, I Think I’m Lost Again from Beauty in Death took center stage. A deeply introspective song about mental health struggles, this live version was particularly poignant. Whether because of personal experiences or the weight of the past year, both Mitchel and Christian’s delivery felt even more vulnerable than usual.
In an interview with AltPress, Christian Anthony once spoke about the lyric “I’m so sick and tired of feeling sick and tired,” saying:
“It’s something we can all relate to right now. We’re in an endless cycle of losing sleep and waking up late. It’s been hard. Mitchel wrote that before the pandemic—that’s something that’s happened before. He’s had premonitions of the future.”
That sentiment made the rawness of this performance even more striking. Though I Think I’m Lost Again explores dark themes, Chase Atlantic’s live execution brought a light, ethereal energy to the song, almost as if providing a moment of catharsis.
A Burst of Energy with Special Guests
Just when the atmosphere became almost too heavy, the show made a sharp turn with an unexpected burst of energy. Rapper DE’WAYNE joined the band for a live rendition of Please Stand By, a chaotic, high-energy track that also features Xavier Mayne. The carefree and wild energy of this song completely flipped the show’s tone for a few minutes, offering a much-needed lift.
Closing with the Classics
After Please Stand By, the setlist returned to darker, more introspective territory with I Don’t Like Darkness, a track from their 2019 album Phases. While the band had performed this track in their 2020 livestream, this version felt more emotionally charged. Mitchel Cave’s vocals carried a raw, almost painful intensity, making this performance one of the most impactful of the night. Fans across social media echoed this sentiment, describing I Don’t Like Darkness as one of the most emotional moments of the entire stream.
Then came the gut-wrenching finale—Wasted, the closing track from Beauty in Death. As the name suggests, Wasted dives into themes of alcoholism and self-medicating as a coping mechanism for mental health struggles. Unlike the studio version, Mitchel Cave’s live delivery had a broken, almost darkly humorous tone, reflecting a sense of hopeless acceptance.
Before the night officially ended, the band delivered two final classics:
- Friends—arguably their most iconic song from the Nostalgia EP—brought a nostalgic, high-energy moment to close out the set.
- Okay—a fan-favorite track—ended the show with a fresh, subtly reworked live version, bringing a renewed vibrancy to the song.
Final Thoughts: A Promising Preview of the
Beauty in Death Tour
As a whole, Chase Atlantic’s Wiltern livestream was an electric mix of old and new, giving fans a taste of what’s to come on their highly anticipated tour. All three members radiated genuine excitement at being back on stage, and while the setlist leaned heavily on throwback tracks, the energy and performance quality were undeniable.
If this livestream was any indication, the Beauty in Death tour is going to be a can’t-miss experience.