Artist - Everyone Says Hi

Venue - Heartbreakers

Town - Southampton UK

Date - 22nd October 2024

Heartbreakers in Southampton is a bar /cafe with an upstairs function room which can cater for about 100 people, a new location to me but will certainly return as it was pleasant experience plus on Tuesday nights showing the sound was excellent with a very attentive sound crew in charge, all three artists were mixed perfectly.

First up were Teenage Waitress who dished up a fine set of Squeeze type kitchen sink stories with fairly simple structure but some great melodic moments. I am not sure about the name as maybe it doesn't relate to the music and image but still an enjoyable showing.

Johnny Lloyd played acoustically next, perched on what looked to me an uncomfortable metal stool, though no harm done. He played songs both from Tribes and his solo catalogue.

I have been looking forward to seeing Everyone Says Hi since listening to a few tracks recommended to me by their promoter. There is obvious experience throughout the band and with ex Kaiser Chief Drummer Nick Hodgson they have a songwriting talent capable of producing premier level songs as he has done for other artists. The name Everyone Says Hi gets a thumbs up from me as is a favourite song from the later Bowie period though may cause them some conflict on google?

Having written the biggest hits for The Kaiser Chiefs we only heard one in the setlist, “Modern Way” was played as a more straight forward song without the added emphasis of Ricky Wilson up front. Hodgson’s songs on first listen sound understated but they simmer and cook with repeated listening, especially on “On the same side” and “Brainfreeze” two tracks from the new album also titled On The Same Side.

It is incredible to hear that Liam Gallagher turned down the song "On the same side" as he would have had a monster on the old hit parade but I do like Everyone Says Hi's version a lot.