Lande Hekt brings a wave of DIY energy and jangly pop rock to Bristol
Words/Photos: Ed Fry
★★★★★
Help to keep FOMO alive; letting creators create: Buy Me A Coffee
Strange Brew is a fitting venue for Lande Hekt, the former Bristol-based frontwoman of Muncie Girls. The genre-agnostic space, with its ever-changing murals and remnants of art installations, is a haven for indie, punk, and DIY musicians. Lande was back in Bristol, this time promoting her excellent fourth album, ‘Lucky Now’.
Photo: Ed Fry
The set was simple for Lande tonight, with a banner hung across the back of Strange Brew’s wide stage with handwritten lyrics: “I can see the rabbits running in the field below”, accompanied by an illustration of a leaping rabbit.
The night kicked off with Bramwell; raw, loud, and upbeat, with raucous guitars, driving basslines and great songs to back it up. Their set was a masterclass in charisma, detuning their guitars mid-performance with the kind of confidence that only comes from knowing you’ve got the crowd. Who needs a tuner when energy and swagger carry you through?
Mumble Tide followed, mellowing the vibe with their three-piece setup. Despite their onstage banter about the tour being a “train wreck,” their performance was anything but. Gina’s butter-smooth vocals and acoustic guitar were perfectly complemented by Ryan’s drum machine and synth pads, while Ben’s electric guitar added depth. Their ability to laugh off technical hiccups with quick-witted humour only made the crowd like them more.
Then came Lande Hekt. Despite being labelled an “underground songwriter,” her punk roots are impossible to ignore. Dressed in her signature block-coloured turtleneck, cropped jeans, and low-top Docs, tattoos on display; she exuded effortless cool. Her dual-Gretsch setup, paired with Harry’s Danelectro longhorn bass, Alex’s understated effected-Telecaster combo, and Noah’s pounding drums, created the jangle-pop wall of sound that filled the room and drew people to see.
Kicking off with Lucky Now’s opener, ‘Kitchen II’, Lande’s voice cut through the wash of reverb and chorus, setting the tone for the night, a balance of catchy melodies, clever lyrics, and interjecting guitar. Smiling as she played, Lande added how happy she was to be there and how much she was enjoying the evening.
Gliding through the set with barely a gap between songs, she did stop to introduce the track ‘Rabbits’. She described it as a song inspired by climbing Glastonbury Tor, alone, on the summer solstice, urging the crowd to seek out their own solstice adventures. The track’s jangly guitars and infectious chorus encapsulated her knack for blending melancholy with energy.
‘80 Days of Rain’ began solo with Lande strumming the opening guitar riff before the band joined in with the sort of drumbeat to get the crowd moving. The melody was rock-solid, with Harry’s harmonies lifting the chorus. Its grunge-tinged guitars and melancholic chords giving way to a cutting solo and a punchy bassline.
Photo: Ed Fry
Lande closed her set with the album’s title track, ‘Lucky Now’, arguably one of Lande’s best tracks and a perfect introduction to her music. The sublime vocal melody, delicate guitar picking, and locked-in drumming made it a standout. Her lyrics, delivered with apparent ease, were packed with emotion. There’s no need for lengthy explanations when the songs speak for themselves.
With the set ending, it has to be said that the band, a tight three-piece of bass, drums, and guitar, brought an unexpected energy to Lande’s chilled studio sound. The guitars, drenched in swirly reverb, turned a four-piece into a lush, surfy wall of noise. Strange Brew’s sound, as always, was spot-on.
My only critique of the night is that with a back catalogue like Lande’s, she could have squeezed a few more tracks in there.
Lande wrapped up what felt like a quick headline set, but the crowd’s appetite for more was clear. With the green room just steps from the stage, hearing the applause, she returned for an encore. Starting solo, then rejoined by the band for one last upbeat number. Again, grinning while singing, she repeated how much she’d loved being back in Bristol.
If the Lucky Now tour is heading your way, or you see Lande Hekt or her supports on a festival lineup this year, go. It would be impossible to dislike her mega catchy melodies and jangle-pop sound. Not only is she superb, but her choice of supports (Bramwell and Mumble Tide) proves she knows how to curate an awesome tour.