Live Review- Hey Harriett, Crown and anchor Hotel 3/8/22
Their enthusiasm is contagious, their songs are well crafted, arrangements creative and musicianship top notch. The connection they create at every show is something that you can’t fake - Sonic Vandals
A Wednesday night gig at a packed Cranker is good for the soul. Hey Harriett’s shows are always a rush, an exchange of positive energy and a reminder that music is healing. Stephi and Storm-Lou opened the show with inspired sets of indie goodness. Though their sounds are different, both bands have great tunes with passionate delivery, and I look forward to catching them again sometime soon. Hey Harriett opened with a spirited version of ‘Hearts in the Ocean’ that had everyone dancing from the outset, and the wild breakdown succeeded in loosening everyone up. High energy versions of ‘Over You’ and ‘Too Fast, Too Soon’ followed. ‘More’ is a slice of danceable indie rock with a heavy chorus that inspires some jumping around. It’s also the ideal song for a spot of crowd surfing. George Rochow took the opportunity of a packed and engaged Cranker crowd to tick one off her bucket list – the sea of humans carried George out into the room and back to the stage. It’s a rarity these days and the highlight of a night that was all about connection, great tunes, and rocking out.
Two new songs followed – ‘I Wanna Die (agnosis)’ and ‘Your M8’. The former is a barnstorming, punky rocker that touches on the anxiety and stress induced while awaiting a mental health diagnosis. ‘Your M8’ is in swinging 6/8 time and is about being friend zoned. Both new songs sound great, with catchy melodies and driving riffs. The set was supposed to finish with the upbeat ‘Let’s Dance’ but there was no way the band were going to get away with just seven songs, so after some enthusiastic encouragement from the crowd we were treated to a couple of bonus songs – ‘Ventolin’ and ‘Not Allowed’. In some ways it was a typical Hey Harriett show – we got positive vibes, catharsis, and some joyful chaos. But that’s only part of what makes them great. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their songs are well crafted, arrangements creative and musicianship top notch. The connection they create at every show is something that you can’t fake. The set was supposed to finish with the upbeat ‘Let’s Dance’ but there was no way the band were going to get away with just seven songs, so after some enthusiastic encouragement from the crowd we were treated to a couple of bonus songs – ‘Ventolin’ and ‘Not Allowed’. In some ways it was a typical Hey Harriett show – we got positive vibes, catharsis, and some joyful chaos. But that’s only part of what makes them great. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their songs are well crafted, arrangements creative and musicianship top notch. The connection they create at every show is something that you can’t fake.
