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LIVE: Black Honey @ Bedford Esquires (23/03/2017)


Once the chance to see such a promising upcoming band in an intimate venue arose, it would've been a crime to miss out. With Freak also performing, it was almost like seeing two headliners for the price of one. However, we hadn't heard of Superego before, but they did not disappoint in proving they had the capability of headlining their own gig soon. This was definitely a night to remember and all great bands to get into, whether you already like Black Honey or not.


Superego got the night under way, showcasing their supreme songs during their 30 minute support slot. They have a unique, dynamic sounds that got everyone dancing, up until the moment when the amp blew and the set had to be stopped temporarily. However, they recovered from the interruption quickly and continued to deliver a powerful set, which left the crowd wanting more. Definitely a band to look out for in the months to come, as are Freak and Black Honey.

Freak then took to the stage and got the crowd going from the start. Highlights included raucous renditions of 'I like to smile when I'm sad,' 'cake,' and a cover of Britney Spears' 'Toxic,' which they made their own. They increased the tempo set by Superego and encouraged everyone to dance along to their rambuncuous tracks. Freak, also known as Connar Ridd, showed off his high-energy as he shredded his way through a number of their most blood-pumping tunes. The crowd responded to Freak's charisma - reminiscent of Rat Boy's equally charismatic stage-presence - by wildly jumping and singing along to every line.

Finally, Black Honey arrived along with their familiar style, clearly influenced by Quentin Tarantino's plethora of movies. Izzy Phillips, the lead singer, delivered the heartfelt lyrics with confidence, with Tommy Taylor (bass), Chris Ostler (guitar) and Tom Dewhurst (drums), creating a unique sound together. After performing some of their best songs, the lights dimmed and the crowd was drawn to silence as everyone wondered what was happening. Only Chris and Izzy stayed on stage, as they began a soulful acoustic version of 'Cadillac,' a B-side to their newest single 'Somebody Better.' This was a first for them, as Bedford was the beginning of their 10-show tour, and quite a magical moment for the crowd and band, who interacted with the eager crowd. After playing a plethora of some of their best tracks, they departed the stage only to re-emerge to play one of their most loved singles - 'Corinne' - which was warmly received by the crowd.  

After the show had finished, we approached the merch stand and were warmly greeted by the lovely Izzy, who kindly went out of her way to find us some temporary tattoos of the Black Honey logo. She also signed our posters and told us to "keep in touch", which was pleasant to see how much she genuinely cared about her fans.

Check out Black Honey's newest single, Somebody Better, and the accompanying B-side, Cadillac.




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