Southampton is not particularly well known for its music scenes, but the longer I live here, and the more shows I attend, I wonder why that is. The town has so much to offer, and I came to this realization while attending the Halfnoise gig at the Heartbreakers on the 13th of May. Wavebye and Bash! are the two local diamonds in the rough (that, to be honest, do not need that much polishing just more exposure ) opening the show.
Wavebye, formerly known as Faux, are Finlay Male in vocals and bass, Daly George in guitar and vocals, James Cross in drums and Jordan Mattingley in the guitar. The renaming came after a change in their sound, from alternative pop heavily inspired by early 00’s emo bands to a softer and more rhythmic pop sound for the 2 EP’s they have released so far ( ‘sugar’ and ‘show me’ ).
With their debut stage being just at the beginning of May (Teddy Rock Festival) this was only their second performance under the new name. They opened the show with ‘sugar’ an atmospheric song with crisp drums and beautiful harmonies and continued with their then-unreleased single ‘show me’ a song with a strong impact and captivating chorus. Despite the lead vocalist being unable to play the bass due to an injury, the show was not lacking, and I could see a bright future for these guys!
Next, Bash!, with their bright red outfits, took the stage. Named after their lead singer Amanda Bashmakova, Bash! is a five-member pop band that was also formed locally. Looks don’t always matter when it comes to good music but with their energetic performance was perfectly complemented by their fun visuals. Strong vocals, a passionate delivery that instantaneously infected the audience with their enthusiasm. Their (unfortunately) short performance consisted of their own singles, with the song ‘Wild’ being my personal favourite and the cover of Toni Basil’s song “Mickey”.
After these delightful hors d’ oeuvres for the ears, it was time for Halfnoise, the brainchild of Zac Farro. Yes, the drummer of Paramore, during his time off the band was working on his own music project, releasing material consistently, even after re-joining them. Zac is currently the sole member of the act but is accompanied by a group of touring musicians that deserve a massive amount of praise for delivering a highly engaging performance. In his black beret Zac, radiating confidence, dominated the stage singing and dancing while keeping the beat by playing his tambourine. The drums virtuoso couldn’t resist mixing it up, showcasing his talent, giving us a high energy drum solo that made the crowd go wild, loudly cheering him.
Halfnoise’s music is heavily inspired by the ’60s but feels very modern, groovy, fresh and it is definitely better enjoyed live and even better in smaller venues. The band’s amazing ability to captivate the audience and make everyone move while they lose all inhibitions is their biggest strength. If you ever have the chance do not hesitate to join, a guaranteed good time!