The Hallamshire Hotel is a Lynchian dream, with mirrors and zigzag floors, swamped in this dingy lighting for a gorgeous venue which makes it an indie venue for the ages.
It’s the home for Tom Sunderland Presents (3), a night of up-and-coming local talents from South Yorkshire – Howl’s very own putting on a gig to showcase a range of sounds, complimented by mirrorballs and drinks.
The night starts with Sonni Mills, who is as captivating on stage as she is at the bar. All big smiles and blonde hair, Sonni takes the stage with only a guitarist. She looks so in her element it’s hard to imagine her outside of the music – despite a duo on stage, they take up the same presence as an entire band with bells and whistles. She has this amazing croon that seems just right in this cosy space, and I’ve been transported to a jazz bar.
Sonni is very much not my idea of a Friday night, and I say this with all due respect. She’s music on your vinyl player on a Sunday morning with sunlight streaming through the window. It’s the best way to start a gig of three acts, in my opinion. Mixing up the sound, something not so often heard on a Friday in Sheffield. I think this is only amplified as I’m pleasantly reminded of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood as Sonni and Jack (aforementioned guitarist) back eachothers vocals perfectly.
It sets the bar for tonight, and I’m pleased for Sonni getting to go first: a chance to perform to a crowd not yet riled up by drums and volume.
The lull in between sets is quite nice in a smaller venue; a chance to chat to everyone and see the performers is always appreciated.
Bridging the gap between jazzy Sonni and post-punk-inspired Everglades comes Cruz: a classic This Feeling indie band. The first thing I notice from them is that their drummer is fantastic. A must for any smaller venue are drums that seem to fill the room, and Cruz achieves this.
They seem a bit subdued for their first song - maybe it’s getting into the swing, or maybe it’s the overwhelming feeling of playing in your hometown. It gives them a bit of charm, to be honest. Shows that they’re real people playing to us.
They get into it as the second song starts. They boast a perfect mix of vocal and instrumental talent, often simple riffs that allow the intricacies of playing to come through.
‘Make It Right’ has this amazing, interpol-esque whammy-bar sound that, once again, fits the venue perfectly. I’ve seen my fair share of This Feeling (and adjacent) bands that aren’t for me - seemingly stuck in 2016, trying to get the sound of Catfish’s debut. But Cruz are certainly not that. They have their own sound while appealing to the indie masses, and make for a deeply enjoyable live gig. It’s like Americana has reached Sheffield and we’re all gagging for more.
They tell us of their single ‘Disco Colour Beams’ hitting 100k streams, a great achievement, before bursting into it - it’s easy to see how their streams amass, playing these catchy tunes that are made for performances in clubs and festivals.
After a brief intermission of pints and chatting, again, we’ve reached the main act: Everglades. Everglades almost immediately strike me as a post-punk tribute, with frontman Joe strutting around Sheffield in a suit and sunnies.
They have an astounding stage presence - before even playing there’s engagement with the crowd, a classic bit of football scarf bullying Wednesday supporters (poor Tom.)
And then, when they start to play, the stage is almost filled: it’s certainly got the instruments on show, but there’s a dampening to Joe’s vocals. They aren’t quite over the instruments, and they definitely needed turning up, but nothing is done about it.
This is a shame because from what I can hear, he’s great! The band has the dual vocals down to a T, all working brilliantly together. The crowd are definitely enjoying themselves and the energy is high, it just feels like a poor treatment of the headliners, which is upsetting for the band and the organisers.
Every cloud has a silver lining, though: their instrumental talents shine through tenfold. Every member is very, very talented - this is the kind of music I always associate with Sheffield.
I admire that every act tonight has done a cover - I love a live cover, a chance to see which artists influence another’s sound. Sonni gives a beautiful rendition of Redbone by Childish Gambino, a sultry riff echoing the stage. Cruz are one of the few indie bands I’ve seen who cover a Strokes song that isn’t Last Nite or Reptilia, giving justice to Take It Or Leave It. Our headliner of the night, Everglades, topped it with the best love song ever - Make It Wit Chu by Queens of the Stone Age.
Sheffield is heralded for its indie scene and with good reason - but it’s not just the classics. The up-and-coming scene showcases such incredible talent. If you needed one sign to go to a small, indie gig this weekend, or next, or even pop to the This Feeling tent at a festival this summer - this is it.
