Gig Review - Hellions at Bournemouth Anvil 15/07/18

by Dylan Hewitson-Bevis

The most important part of any small gig is the feeling of family. No matter where you’re from, be it the hometown of the venue or 30,000 kilometres away from home, you should feel as though you’re in a room surrounded by those with the exact same passion and desire for music. The feeling of family should resonate amongst everybody in the crowd.

This is exactly how I felt at Hellions’ headlining gig at the Bournemouth Anvil. Even though myself and my sister are Australians and were attending a show a world away from home on the south shore of England, I felt in my element. I felt comfortable. I felt right at home.

The three bands on the line up that night, I, The Mapmaker, Chapter & Verse and Hellions all did perfect jobs of engaging the crowd and encouraging the atmosphere of friendship and joviality throughout the gig. Not once was I given the impression that the bands performing were doing so out of anything other than sheer passion for their art and craft. All three acts took the stage and venue by storm and turned it into a place of worship for music.

Hellions

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I, The Mapmaker were first and I cannot express how much I enjoyed their set. I was entirely unfamiliar with their music, but I later learned they are huge in the South England scene, and deservedly so. I appreciated the spoken word interludes between each song, and the passion that was poured into the songs that followed was nothing short of stunning. I highly recommend you check out their debut EP, Searching, as soon as possible.

Chapter & Verse were incredibly charismatic characters on stage. The front man’s interactions with the crowd between songs further fuelled that feeling of family, joking with the audience and making us feel included. Their music is also impressive and interesting, a mix of high vocals and heavy instrumentation. I was left wanting more after their set, and hope they visit Australia soon.

Lastly were my boys from Hellions. Two words could summarize their set, and they would be Holy and Shit, in that order. I was floored by the frantic energy of the front man, who spent the entire gig in the middle of the crowd offering the microphone to audience members who wanted their turn at screaming the lyrics. The tightness and professionalism of these Australian lads was nothing short of awesome, and I hope to see them again as soon as possible.

I have to also commend the bands for their time spent at the merchandise tables, interacting with eager fans after their respective sets. I came to know the boys from Mapmaker really well, learning that they lived in the same area as my cousin, and also swapped stories of shared friends with the front man of Hellions.

Hellions

by Dylan Hewitson-Bevis

Shows like these are the reason why I go to gigs in the first place. Impressive music, friendly band members and the overwhelming atmosphere of family are intoxicating and I cannot get enough of any of it. The South England local scene was fascinating to be a part of, if only for one night. I’ve made some important and hopefully long lasting friendships from that gig, and I am forever thankful for that.

Music is a connector, and it brings us all together.