As a buzz begins to hum around the O2 Guildhall in Southampton while it fills with likeminded music fans, support act Lauran Hibberd bounds onto the stage and begins her set to warm up the crowd. The singer-songwriter keeps everyone entertained with her high-energy performance, commenting to the crowd that Southampton is pretty much her hometown, just across the seas from the Isle of Wight where she is based.
After the post-act lull of the initial upbeat performance from Lauran subsides, anticipation begins to build up for the main artists, London formed Indie-rock band, Sea Girls.
All eyes are upon lead singer, Henry Camamile as the band appear on stage and greet their fans. They effortlessly launch into the well-known banger ‘Damage Done’ from their first studio album, setting the vibrant tone for what is to come. Sea Girls seamlessly slip into the second track of the night, ‘Lucky’, from the new album entitled Homesick.
The atmosphere is electrified, with the crowd whooping and cheering and the band raring to launch into their next number, but the lead singer pauses to thoughtfully remind fans to “mosh, dance and sing”, but to help each other and seek out help from security if needed.
Next up is the first album’s namesake, ‘Open Up Your Head’, before the band introduce a couple of new tracks from their latest album, songs of which fans have already lapped up the lyrics of. Camamile positions himself on the speaker at the front of the stage, looking over the crowd and drinking it all in, the sea of people singing back at him.
In a lapse to let fans get their breath back from the train of high energy performances, Camamile humbly begins to speak to the crowd about how much this venue means to the band and how it is “a dream place”. They reflect on how, after the band played their considerably more intimate gig at Southampton venue The Joiners back in 2018, they were told by many a fan that if they played the Guildhall they would sell it out – and fast forward four years – they have! The band comment that this is “beautiful”.
Lights dim and the tone is lowered whilst the band perform a stripped back rendition of ‘Transplant’, which is met with seas of waving arms and ended in unified chants of “whatever happened to your heart didn’t happen to mine”. The response to this heartfelt, personal track prompts the lead singer to pause and tell the crowd how happy the band are to be here.
Soon after, Sea Girls tease that they want to “see everyone jumping” for the next one, and as soon as the first note of ‘Too Much Fun’ is registered by the crowd, they do not disappoint. Setting an example to all, lead guitarist Rory Young maintains a high level of infectious energy throughout the set.
Following on from this, the tone is again softened as much-loved ballad ‘Adored’ begins, with lead vocals nailing the powerful chorus.
Roaring through outstanding new tracks as well as crowd favourites such as ‘Violet’ and ‘Do You Really Wanna Know?’, Sea Girls continue to radiate excitement into the crowd, resulting in frenzied jumping, endless waving of arms and mosh pits.
Sea Girls again engage their audience in-between songs, mentioning once more the band’s history of performing smaller gigs in Southampton: “The Joiners, The Loft, now here” Camamile remarks. It is clear that the band are deservedly proud of how far they have come, voicing their excitement to be wrapping up the UK tour at “Ally Pally” (Alexandra Palace, London).
Exiting the stage for a brief period, the crowd begins rumbling chants of “Sea Girls, Sea Girls” and “one more song”, before the band make their return. Camamile asks who in the room are superfans, before proceeding to perform one of their earlier tracks, ‘Daisy Daisy’.
To the crowd’s delight, Sea Girls then launch into the firm favourite, ‘All I Want To Hear You Say’. The band are clearly overwhelmed by the response from the crowd at this point and Camamile apologises into the microphone for his “lack of articulation”.
The band round off their thoroughly enjoyable set with the guaranteed crowd pleaser, ‘Call Me Out’, and just like that, they thank their audience, and the set is over. Sea Girls’ passion throughout their show was undeniable. They certainly seemed confident and at home in the venue, whilst remaining as humble as ever. The band captured the enjoyment and wholesomeness of watching live music and knowing that they are just happy to be here, performing to their fans, just as we were happy to be watching them.
Words by Sarah Turner
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