Honeyblood
“Something I’d never thought I’d say is good is having a bass, you can quote me on that”, Stina Tweeddale announces halfway through Honeyblood’s Waterfront Studio show. It’s the act’s first show in Norwich since November 2016, which was my first time seeing the band, and it’s the act’s first show ever as the solo project of Stina. Before this incarnation, she had been accompanied by a regular drummer, but now it’s her solo project, and she is accompanied by two live musicians. Before now, there had been no bass in Honeyblood’s live shows--and it’s quite cute that Stina mentions the change regularly throughout the show.
Opening the stage this evening is Coventry’s FEET, possibly the only decent band to come from Coventry since its 2-Tone success. The quintet start their set with a breath of experimental, wobbly indie, but in areas, a tad too wobbly. There are certain parts where the band members lose their time with each other, and perhaps fall into a few easy mistakes, however as the slot continues, they melt into each other and end their set flawlessly. One of their songs is about diesel, and another about a hot dog, which we all know is right up my street. The band members, after the initial mistimings, work seamlessly together, and their tracks are episodic and dynamic--certainly a band to keep on your radar.
After FEET are finished, it’s time for Honeyblood to take the stage. It’s immediately clear that the self-professed ‘witchy’ vibes Stina owns (see our interview with her here for context) are even more clear in the live shows. Stina is adorned with a black and crimson lace dress, and I’m genuinely in awe. I want that dress.
Stina opens the show with ‘Sea Hearts’ from their 2016 album Babes Never Die, followed by oldie ‘Biro’ from their 2014 debut. I’m not sure if it’s the venue, or if it’s the musicians, but until the third or fourth track, the performance feels like it’s lacking something. Whether it’s the sound system or the band members is unclear, but it doesn’t hugely impact the show, and by fourth song ‘Walking at Midnight’, I’m fully engaged with the performance. Stina quips nicely throughout the hour-long set, including a sincere introduction of her bandmates--forgive me if this is wrong, I had earplugs in and it was muffled--Debbie on drums, and Anna on bass, who I’m pretty sure is also the bassist in PINS, who supported Honeyblood in 2016. Each musician is has a different vibe; Stina is witchy, Debbie is grunge, and Anna is sleek, but together, they make one hell of a power trio. This is a force to be reckoned with, and the music they make together only proves it.
Stina plays a few unheard songs from the upcoming record In Plain Sight, and the three songs we’ve already heard from the album. ‘Glimmer’ is currently the standout track from the new album, but that could all change when it comes out on the 24th May. There’s a completely equal balance of old, kind of old, and new, with 5 tracks from each album making up the set. I always knew Honeyblood was something special, and this show tonight made me even more confident I’m right. Even after 2 lineup changes and a couple of years’ break, Stina is back, and with just as much power as before.
