Live Review: Hawxx at The O2 Academy, Islington, London (04/12/23)

What a year it’s been for Hawxx, and the four-piece alternative heavy punk rock band are ending it with a bang, as part of a huge tour alongside alternative act, Halocene, that has seen them play all over Europe, before returning to the UK and ending the tour in the capital city, London.

Have you heard their debut album – Earth, Spit, Blood and Bones? It’s a great release and has rightfully been well received by many. You can read our full review of that record here.

Before I get into the nitty gritty of Hawxx’s performance, I want to talk a little about the band and what I got from this show. I want to do this because who Hawxx are, what they stand for, and why I believe they are going to be absolutely massive, matters.

I’m not going to preach, it’s not my place, but I do want to share my thoughts. Even if it is coming from the most un-marginalised group of all – a white, heterosexual male.

In a short amount of time, Hawxx have blown up, evident by the fact that the O2 Academy in Islington is pretty packed once they take to the stage. This isn’t just people coming down early and checking out the support while having a few drinks, this is a crowd here for Hawxx, and that is special. Not only that, a large portion of this crowd is intensely into them, and that is even more special.

The question is why? I’m a strong believer in connections and I see it all the time at live shows. A band, and the music they play, just speaks to people and what they experience can be downright emotional. Be it expressed through cheers, head-banging, pitting, dancing, or any other way a person feels fit to do so. I know, I have my own connections too.

Hawxx are no different in this regard, as their music is so lively, sincere, and heavy, especially in the live environment. When it comes to head-banging body-shakers, few will have reasons to complain.

For many, that is the ‘be all and end all’ of it, but for a few, Hawxx speak to them in a different way, and it is this that really had an effect on me. I, like many others, know who and what Hawxx are and the changes they are a major part of forcing upon the music industry. Their stance and what they want Hawxx to be is as clear as day, and anyone that says otherwise is simply being ignorant. Hawxx are a feminist band, a safe space for women and queer folk, but they also talk of inclusivity for all, especially marginalised groups.

These aren’t just catchphrases with this band. They wholeheartedly believe in it and desire their supporters to follow suit. It’s not a difficult thing to do, even if minor, but loud negative voices would have you believe it is. Hawxx don’t just claim to be inclusive, they are inclusive, and again, this couldn’t be more evident by a quick scan of the room. Hawxx, and what they do, matter in a way a lot of us could never understand.

There’s connecting with a band, and then there’s feeling as though a band understands and accepts you, in ways that the world sometimes doesn’t seem too. I can’t speak for that feeling, I can just be grateful that it exists for some people. That Hawxx have this, nurture and encourage this, is why they are so special, and I believe they will only continue to grow a bigger and wider fanbase as they move forward.

Of course, while this is so important, the fact that Hawxx are a killer band live, is important too. They might only have around 30 minutes on stage, but they make every single part of that count. Arriving to an absolute cacophony of cheers, and with the biggest smiles on their faces, it’s a raucous start with the heavy as hell, Death of Silence, and the chorus absolutely soars.

The immediately notable thing, aside from how tight they sound as musicians, is their clear confidence. The energy from the crowd is creating buoyancy within the band and that only continues to grow as Dogma, Embrace the Ugly, and Blunt get the heads well and truly banging.

Time is short, alas, but Hawxx make sure to not leave anyone feeling short-changed. First, with Trust Your Rage (I think that was it), then by delivering one of their most powerful tracks of all (check out the video too), Death Makes Sisters of Us All and dedicating it to all the women in the crowd. It’s an immense song on record, but live it takes on a different life all together and it’s no surprise that there are faces with tears in their eyes in this crowd.

It’s that damn Hawxx connection!

Finally, how do you wrap up a stellar show from a band oozing confidence and with plenty of tracks to drop the mic to? How about something that really shows off the punkier side of this band. It’s Bite (Holiness in Fuck) and it might be the most raw and sharp tracks of all. Yet, everyone in this venue is super into it and it is the perfect way to cap off another successful show for this band.

2023 was one hell of a year for Hawxx, so it’s an easy prediction to make that 2024 will be even bigger based off what was witnessed tonight. Hawxx aren’t just part of the change anymore, they are the change. Get aboard, or get the fuck out of the way.