18/11/2022 | Sea Girls – O2 Academy, Birmingham

When London indie rock band Sea Girls released their sophomore album in March this year, it was clear that their star was already on the rise, and now they look set to cement their place in the UK alternative scene with their ‘Hometown Tour’.

The sold-out show was opened by Isle of Wight singer-songwriter Lauran Hibberd, who warmed up the audience with a dynamic performance of her own brand of whimsical slacker-pop, which would not have sounded out of place in the 90s.

After much audience anticipation, each of the members of Sea Girls entered the stage to rapturous applause, and they quickly kicked into the set opener Damage Done. The energy between the band and their fans was palpable as they performed their first few songs; particularly during Open Up Your Head, which prompted a large singalong.

We were also treated to a beautiful, stripped-back version of Transplant, as lead singer Henry Camamile performed it solo.  Later, as he took a moment to pause, he reminded those attending the gig to respect and look after each other; which I thought was a particularly classy touch to try and create a safe space for fans.

Returning to Sea Girl’s full line-up, Hometown seemed to particularly resonate with the largely youthful audience, as the band offered a peek into life during their teenage years and the friendships that they shared while growing up.

There was a euphoric energy throughout the concert, but I felt that it genuinely kicked up a notch about half way through, when they performed Ready for More, Violet and Lonely. There was something anthemic in the air as the whole audience bounced around and sang along, and it certainly wouldn’t have felt out of place in a large field in the summertime, such as at Reading Festival.

Sea Girls closed their set with Paracetamol Blues; but of course it was not over, as the band returned to the stage for an encore of three of their most popular songs Daisy Daisy, All I Want to Hear You Say and Call Me Out. Leaving the venue on a high, it was clear that the fans would happily relive the night once again if they could, so I look forward to seeing what their next album and tour brings.

www.seagirls.net