English Indie Rockers, Sea Girls arrived in Dundee to run though their lockdown album Homesick as part of their independent record store tour across May.
The band, frontman Henry Camamile, lead guitar, Rory Young, bass player Andrew Dawson and drummer Oli Khan shot out of the blocks.
The band runs the line between indie rock and catchy pop hooks without tipping over to cookie cutter 21st century guitar band. Driven by Oli and Andrew’s growling rhythms and with Rory’s guitar shredding above, the band is musically very tight, allowing singer Henry freedom to enjoy the frontman role which he obviously loves.
The Dundee audience brought the noise from the start as the band kicked off with Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son. Within the first few bars Boom! We were off, the audience belting back the lyrics much to Henry’s obvious delight.
The jangling country guitar of Friends kept the pace going with Henry and the crowd belting out the hook “every second you’re not wasting’s one you’ll never get back”. By then the room was bouncing the crowd totally absorbed into the music.
Paracetamol Blues wasn’t going to give us a breather! Rory plays like a man possessed, a 21st century Angus Young, full of the joy the effect shredding his Gibson has on the room. And the audience who have been engrossed since the first seconds are still with the band their energy impressive.
At last, the acoustic first few bars hint of a slower pace with Cute Boys but Henry asks us if we know the song. “You do know that I expect a mosh halfway through?” The song does start acoustically but before long the room is reverberating to Oli and Andrews stomping rhythms and the crowd seems to hit another level with Henry stood over them directing from the crash bar. The vocals are so strong mixing power and musicality over hugely vulnerable lyrics. ‘Just wanted to say goodnight. Just wanted to say this is the last thing I write. I spill my guts upon your floor then I’ll leave and love no more and I’ll be free but insecure.’
Henry’s lyrics are often powerfully introspective and beautifully written. Hometown is a great example, reflecting on the past, a sharp cut of reflections on times lost. ‘Lemonade, ripped jeans. Nothing feels real when you’re seventeen. I remember it, always, were you up for it? Always.
Were this Dundee Sea Girls audience up for it? Always!! These excited Dundonians were belting out the lyrics.
Sleeping With You mixes reflective lyrics and grand anthems which will have fans on their feet at the large venues planned for the Band’s November tour. In this small old Church it seems to want to explode into the street.
Next up is the witty DNA. The band’s post album single, “DNA”, was released as an exclusive limited 7″ vinyl for the 15th anniversary of Record Store Day. Rory cranks the distortion up to 11 an off we go!
I wish I was just a child, Mom and Dad, can you make me smile? I’m getting sad
Oh, I wish I was just a child, Mom and Dad, can you make me smile? It’s gettin’ bad. Once again the roaring four piece rocks out over very poignant lyrics. Sick is a great song, even more powerful live.
For the last two songs the band went back to 2018 with All I Want to Hear You Say and Adored a strong finish to a great gig with Henry jumping into the passionate audience delighted to be so close to the man himself.
The band gave an amazing, full on 60 minutes to a passionate, music daft 200 with one of the best gigs to hit Dundee in a long time. Don’t miss the Sea Girls’ Hometown Tour, their biggest UK tour to date kicks off in November 2022, culminating in their gig at the amazing Alexandra Palace in London.
Words and pictures: Graeme White @head_in_the_bass_bin