Black Honey – Leeds Church – 18/10/18
Rolling with the momentum of their recent successful single ‘Midnight’, Black Honey have released their self titled full length album, and delivered it live across the UK to please our ears with a few extra surprises up their sleeves for good measure. This evening they arrive in Leeds to play an almost sold out show at the Church which pulls everyone out of the warmth to get together for a good old indie-rock show.
It’s the new album opener ‘I Only Hurt The Ones I Love’ that commences the show as the crowd look up at the Brighton four-piece standing tall on the towering stage, and it’s not long before everyone is nicely warmed to continue with their best intentions. The slick and slow-moving ‘Madonna’ follows closely and sounds great live as the band deliver it with heaps confidence.
It’s clear the recent months Black Honey have thrown everything into pushing their new album, as well as a short festival circuit of shows, has paid off with a reward of acknowledgement and acceptance of many. Backed up by tonight’s support from the Leeds crowd, Black Honey are not only turning heads, but locking them in place with their infectious indie-rock.
Having a strong set of music is always the most important thing for any band, but Black Honey also have a contagious stage presence too. It may be a little weird at times, but also wonderful in the same light. The stage glows with neon lights and shiny silver tassel backdrops as the frontwoman leads the stage with hints of a disco western theme in her outfit choice tonight with a bandana around the neck. It’s one that might be a little subtler than the McDonalds uniform and Ronald McDonald makeup she wore in Birmingham recently, but that’s part of the excitement of the band, they are full of surprises.
As far as the new album goes a decent chunk of the set delivers some strong music from their self-titled full length. ’Bad Friends’ has an eerie vibe to it in the church, and the reserved ‘Blue Romance’ has a glowing burst of light blocked with the silhouette of frontwoman Izzy B. Phillips as she guides us through the song flaunting her vocals which sound great.
‘Into The Nightmare’ is one of our favourites from the new album with its edgy sharp riffs and pounding beat so it’s great to see it as part of the set list, and much to our delight it sounds as good live as it does on the album. ‘What Happened to You’ is another stand out track with its flowing guitar, bassline and catching chorus we just can’t help but sing along to.
Predictably the latter stage of the set picked up the pace as the big guns came out from the set. ‘Hello Today’ picks up the pace and the recent hit single ‘Midnight’ closes the show with its fuzzy rock to have everyone bouncing around on the main floor one last time.
It was a great show delivered with confidence throughout but we can’t help but feel that Black Honey have a lot more to show for themselves before we see them at their very best. If they can up their game again in the near future they’ll soon lose the support act label and start selling out the big shows in no time at all!
(PLEASE DO NOT CROP OR EDIT PHOTOS)
Photo Credit: © Danny Peart Photography 2017
