Home Counties at hallamshire hotel, sheffield

Sheffield’s Hallamshire Hotel isn’t an easy room to win over, especially on a cold Monday night. But Home Counties managed it within a few bars, turning the venue into a genre-hopping dance party almost as soon as they appeared. Even before they’d settled into their instruments, there was that slightly knowing energy that usually signals a good night ahead. The crowd had packed in early, and once the lights dropped and the synths kicked in, it was obvious the six-piece were intent on wringing everything they could out of the room.

They opened with Take You Back, from the new album Humdrum, which builds confidently on the sharp edges of debut Exactly as It Seems. Its droning synths and the weaving vocal lines shared between Will Harrison and Lois Kelly landed neatly, the pair’s contrasting voices folding together with ease. A little later in the set came Take Me Home, which only reinforced how well the two vocalists complement each other – groovy, loose, infectious.

 

From there, the energy lifted again with fan favourite Bethnal Green – the landmarks may be a long way from Sheffield, but the crowd didn’t care, as a sprightly keyboard solo pushed it fully into party mode. By this point the room was entirely theirs, with the whole band keeping things playful by picking up maracas, tambourines and even recorders, giving the set an improvised charm.

 

The band were visibly enjoying the gig as much as anyone watching, and came across as sweetly grounded. Before their track about pubs, they asked the room for local recommendations; during Dad Bod, Harrison pointed at different crowd members each time he hit the title phrase, pausing for an extra beat when he aimed it at the band’s own tour manager, to some amusement.

 

There had been chatter beforehand about the “festive surprise” teased on their Instagram, and mid-set the mystery was solved: the premiere of their Christmas song Better Last Year (Home Counties for Christmas). They admitted they weren’t sure how it would go down, but the room greeted it warmly, its rough-around-the-edges charm fitting the band perfectly.

 

If the night showed anything, it’s Home Counties’ talent for pairing uncomfortable themes – tax, gentrification, suburban drift – with an upbeat undercurrent. Few bands manage to soundtrack an existential crisis and a dance at the same time, but Home Counties seem to take it as a point of pride.

 

They closed with Uptight, a hard-hitting blend of electronic chirps, wiry riffs and a chorus built for shouting back. It was a neat summary of the evening: sharp, clever and impossible to resist. And for anyone holding tickets to see Franz Ferdinand on tour next year, Home Counties will be supporting — well worth turning up early for.

 

Words: Donovan Livesey