Fresh off the back of the release of their second LP Homesick in March, indie rockers Sea Girls were on top form as they belted out a setlist brimmed with fresh material on the Sheffield Student Union stage. Coming right off of the back of the album peaking at No.3 in the UK charts, the quartet were able to show off their impressive array of new tracks in front of a gleeful crowd.
Opening with the brooding ‘Someone’s Daughter Someone’s Son’, its slow, poignant intro grew into a pacey rock track bolstered by a catchy pop chorus. The song acts as the perfect primer for the rest of the gig. This early pace-setter was followed up by the post-Covid tinged track ‘Friends’, where the crowd, as if having only suddenly realised they were no longer beholden to the rules of the pandemic, began piling onto each other, like old friends reunited. This frenzied reaction by the crowd perfectly mirrored the song, particularly the lyric “So grab your friends wherever you can/ Go fuck up your plans/ ‘Cause every second you’re not wasting is one you’ll never get back”. A stirring track in its own right, ‘Friends’ offered a timely reminder of just how joyous it was to be back enjoying live music as part of a crowd again.
Energetic frontman Henry Camamile, kitted out in a Boston Red Sox shirt, was every bit the centre of attention as he showcased some of the new record’s most popular songs. ‘Paracetamol Blues’ is perhaps the strongest on Homesick, and, at least judging by the reaction of the crowd, the most well-known. The audience became a veritable choir, beautifully singing along with Camamile.
However, not all of the new tracks were greeted with such a clamorous reception, with the 25-year-old lead singer joking about the lack of appreciation for some of Homesick’s lesser-known material amongst the concertgoers. ‘Cute Guys’ was one such song, yet the high-octane performance from Camamile more than made up for the lack of audience participation, with the singer proceeding to make his first foray into the crowd as the track reached its heavy, explosive conclusion
Perhaps buoyed by the energy felt from the spectators Camamile continued to interact with the audience for the rest of the night, at one point grasping onto a metal bar hanging from the Foundry’s roof before being met by a questioning glare from security.
It was not just Camamile who was visibly having the time of his life on stage, with all the members of Sea Girls (Rory Young on lead guitar, Andrew Dawson on bass and Oli Khan on drums), grinning from ear to ear and clearly getting lost in the moment, as Sea Girls ramped up the intensity of a set which lasted just over 45 minutes.
Closing with two fan favourites from debut LP Open Up Your Head in ‘All I Want To Hear You Say’ and ‘Call Me Out’, the ear-splitting reaction from the audience reinforced the feeling that the follow-up record still needs time to build in the minds of fans. The popularity of these two tracks meant the group’s performance finished on a frantic high as the crowd were pulled forward amidst the emergence of some very hectic mosh pits.
This mixed response to Sea Girls’ new material reflected the struggle every artist has with a second album. However, Sea Girls are seemingly more bothered about their relationship with their fans than the critics, with Camamile taking the time to thank their fans, lovingly described as the “real shit”, for sticking by them. In essence, this personal message was able to powerfully reflect the heartfelt passion of the group’s overall performance on the night. A sense of privilege amongst each band member to be able to continue doing what they love was palpable, relishing every opportunity to share this feeling with their fans.
Rating: 4/5
