Honeyblood

The Louisiana, Bristol | 22 September

“For the first time in ages young people are writing really good music, on guitars, in the UK.” It’s a talking point that’s peaked due in no small part to Royal Blood’s recent soft rock victory in the charts. But in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s also at least one great band from every town you’d care to mention, and they’re all killing it. The look and feel of this new stable of lads and lasses might feel somewhat familiar if you’re familiar with the Sarah Records and Sub Pop back catalogues, but the music is danceable, it’s fun and (most importantly) it’s probably coming to a venue near you.

With that in mind, seeing two young ladies from Scotland playing catchy pop rock in a sweaty Bristol back room seemed like a great way to spend an otherwise stagnant Monday evening. It should have been passable, it could have been brilliant. With a support band like Cambridge based Bloody Knees ahead of you though, it’s never going to be an easy ride. Their oh-so-English witticisms weave into melodies that are at once infectious and gritty. Sure, there’s a guilty nod to 90s bands like Archers of Loaf and Superchunk, but all in all their energy and stage presence makes for an entertaining 20 minute set, with new tracks like Daydream and Stitches proving they know how to write an actual tune that will stick with you for the next week and a half.

Honeyblood (don’t get it twisted) are a likeable concept and their latest record is full of ear-worms worthy of Best Coast and melodies that Teenage Fanclub would probably envy. They’re energetic on record and lead singer Stina Tweedale’s often caustic lyrics play off against a mostly upbeat tone to charmingly bittersweet, melodramatic effect. Lead single Super Rat is an ex-bashing anthem that is totally singable and totally full of tough emotional momentum. It’s something we can all relate to. A savage break up. That uncontrollable urge to send a thousand angry texts.

Tonight, however, as Tweedale squints under the red lights of Bristol’s Louisiana and unenthusiastically crawls through a dull set, Fall Forever is fraught with technical issues and the band’s recovery is impressive but we can’t help but wonder whether (I’d Rather Be) Anywhere But Here isn’t the most poignant track they’ll play all night. It’s hard to imagine her as the voice behind the lyrics “I will hate you forever/Scumbag sleaze/Slimeball grease/You really do disgust me” and when they finally play the single, it’s hard to imagine she’s ever experienced anything like actual emotion in her life, let alone had the capacity in her heart to write such a rousing rant of a song so utterly full of vitriol. Even though newly appointed drummer Cat Myers puts in an impressive workout, it’s a less than gripping end to a remarkably disappointing set.

Whether they were just tired or actually bored is hard to say. Either way we saw Honeyblood as apathetic teenagers rather than the musically empowered, bitter powerhouse we’d imagined when we heard their debut. Our only consolation? Walking home safe in the knowledge that the record would still sound just as tempered and just as moody through our headphones as soon as we got there.

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Words: Billy Black

@BillyBillyBlack