Live Review: Sea Girls - O2 Brixton Academy, London 15/10/2021
Halfway through their sell-out UK tour, and following a main stage slot at Reading and Leeds, Sea Girls take the stage at Brixton Academy to give indie fans the live show they’ve been craving.
From complete darkness comes the instantly recognisable twang of Call Me Out’s first chord. The lights flare as lead singer Henry’s voice meets the crowd’s immense roar. Their cheers last only seconds before they’re screaming and bouncing up and down - the (entirely worthwhile) causes of the aching knees and lost voices they’ll undoubtedly have the next day.
Stopping only momentarily, to welcome the audience, and remind the crowd to ensure the girls among them are made to feel safe, the band race into Violet, their self-proclaimed ‘scream-from-the-rooftops love song,’ and the whirlwind set continues on at speed. However, the gig doesn’t feel rushed - the frenzy of activity exposes Sea Girls to be just as giddy and excited about playing to a sold-out Brixton Academy as the eager fans crammed up against the barrier are. The same grinning expressions worn by everyone in the crowd are mirrored in each of the band members' faces. It seems that this show is living up to the ‘amazing, crazy moment’ that drummer Oli hoped it would be when we chatted to him back in August.
As the contagious, catchy and cathartic songs continue, every one of them feeling instantly familiar whether you’ve known it word-perfect for years, or are hearing it for the first time, Henry introduces a new track; Lonely. After a brief rehearsal of the chorus with the audience, Oli (drums), Andrew (guitar) and Rory (bass) join in, and the richness of Sea Girls’s indie rock euphoria fills Brixton’s dome once more.
An acoustic guitar is brought out for Henry and he and Rory cover Someone Like You - a sweet acknowledgement of the return of Adele on what’s being called ‘Adele Day!'
As Henry hops off-stage and climbs onto the barrier, the crowd’s reaching arms encircle him and he belts out Damage Done to their obvious delight. Andrew continues, as he has done all night, to fulfil the responsibility he has seemingly taken on; to single-handedly fill the huge stage, by springing and leaping his way from one bandmate to another.
The night of glittering indie ear-worms is brought to a close with All I Wanna Hear You Say, enough confetti to fill an arena, and the joyous buzz of a satisfied crowd. It can only be a matter of time until Sea Girls actually are in an arena, and there’s no doubt that it too will sell out.
Words and Photography by Alice Sutton