Monday 3 March saw HotWax play the first in store show of their album release tour at Music’s Not Dead at the de La Warr Pavillion. Hot Shock is their debut album and is out tomorrow – released by Marathon Artists.
This also happened to be their hometown show, which is always nerve-wracking for any band. However the trio had nothing to worry about. They are born to what they do, and are extremely good at it. The audience (made up of kids aged 8 to 80+) were behind them from the start – whooping and cheering just at the sight of them.
The band work hard, taking nothing for granted and this, combined with their natural humility is part of why their home crowd love them so.
As soon they kick into action the performance is explosive. They are in the zone – effortless and natural rock stars.
They start with She’s Got a Problem (one of only 3 tracks from the album that had already been released) followed by Wanna Be a Doll – which Tallulah and Lola played in stripped back form for the first LOUD WOMEN radio show on Resonance FM back in December (listen here).
Strange to be Here sounds like a song from the 90s that I already know and yet it is also so obviously theirs.
HotWax Album launch for Music’s Not Dead at DLWP 03/03/25 by Sara Louise Bowrey 
HotWax Album launch for Music’s Not Dead at DLWP 03/03/25 by Sara Louise Bowrey 
HotWax Album launch for Music’s Not Dead at DLWP 03/03/25 by Sara Louise Bowrey 
HotWax Album launch for Music’s Not Dead at DLWP 03/03/25 by Sara Louise Bowrey 
HotWax Album launch for Music’s Not Dead at DLWP 03/03/25 by Sara Louise Bowrey 
HotWax Album launch for Music’s Not Dead at DLWP 03/03/25 by Sara Louise Bowrey
A particular highlight for me was when they played Pharmacy – Tallulah picking up an acoustic guitar for this, Lola switching to electric guitar instead of bass and Alfie bringing more percussive drums to the mix and layering in synth sounds. This song, which they wrote at Joshua Tree, takes things down a notch, whilst demonstrating how they are developing their songwriting and experimenting with new ways to present and perform their sound. They are honing and layering their craft as they continue to grow and develop as musicians bringing stronger vocals, sweeter harmonies, synth sound bites and ever more fluid live performances.
They end the show on Rip It Out – which is a classic already – the audience shouting the lyrics along with them. Watching them is always a joy and never boring which is why you should buy the album and catch them at a town near you as they tour the UK from end of March to mid-April.
Find all their tour dates and merch here