Live Review: Hello Mary - The Shacklewell Arms, London 04/09/2024
Hello Mary ooze gorgeous grunge.
Embarking on a mini tour of East London this month, tonight at Dalston’s iconic hipster haunt The Shacklewell Arms, Hello Mary open with ‘Float’, its erratic drumming tempo changes creating a compelling unpredictability. This intoxicating set opener is driven by a gorgeously grungy bass and anguished vocals strongly reminiscent of Hole in their heyday. Despite a sense of chaos, there is an intricacy to the structure of their songwriting, as drummer and vocalist Stella Wave eloquently describes: “We map out all the sections beforehand, we like to write intricate parts that complement each other”. This raw grunge spirit feels befitting in such a venue, as their cult like followers get into the groove intensely at the front, and pack the room to the rafters.
On their upcoming album Emita Ox released next Friday 13th September, Brooklyn based trio Hello Mary “Push harder into heavy distortion and psychedelic dreamscapes, as they build out their singular universe of gutsy strain of rock”. The deliciously disorientating ‘Heavy Sleeper’ is both harmonic and haunting, the gentle vocals drifting in and out ethereally, reminiscent of a peaceful yet delirious dream. A shrill birdsong effect between songs mid set feels like coming back from a vivid trip into the freshness of dawn.
‘Footstep Misstep’ is a wall of sound driven by an infectious, jangling lead guitar loop interspersed with crashing drums building up to a chaotic close and melting effortlessly into ‘Courtesy’. Supported earlier tonight by their fellow New York City comrades Lip Critic, Hello Mary are poised for a sold out headline show at The Windmill in Brixton, alongside a landmark tour support slot with American Football culminating at the Roundhouse later this mont. What is already a phenomenal lUK live debut for a band brimming with promise sure looks like an even more exciting future ahead.
Words by Brendan Sharp
