There is an expression that comes to mind when I think about Deaf Havana. Once upon a time, I was an excitable sixteen year old going out into the great unknown by himself for the very first time. I had been to local gigs before, you know, the ones that host cover bands of Nirvana or The Strokes, and ambitious start-ups called “Sum 182” or “Games ‘n’ Rosies” and that.
Never had I had the courtesy of seeing a real concert like this. It was a cold and foul night in December 2011, and I remember the rain coming down something fierce on the streets of Manchester. As to be expected by what we know British winter to be, I still remember that deathly tingle down my spine as the weather pushed what had to be minus-figures.
But I also remember that sensation which consumed me, once inside the venue. Witnessing everything in vivid and remarkable colours, my ears still hear the rumblings of the loud, screeching distortion of support bands I knew only vaguely about. It transformed my world into a wonderland of exuberance and expression in an instant.
That expression again came to mind when I arrived on the University of Leeds campus this past week to see the very support band I once only knew but vaguely, some twelve years ago – Deaf Havana:
“The more things change, the more things stay the same”.
Since their start from humble beginnings at their college in King’s Lynn, Deaf Havana have gone on to become long established names in the rock and alternative scenes. Surpassing the MySpace age, the group made themselves recognised artists on grand stages, supported by frequent appearances on U.S. soil at festivals far and wide, as well as their discography of six albums. Their debut was one that immediately put them on the map with regular screentime on UK music channels such as Kerrang! And Scuzz; nostalgic hits such as “Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life” and “Friends Like These”.
Bangers like those opened my eyes to the band I first saw support Architects twelve years ago. Flash-forward to Wednesday, and much had changed. As the hands of time so often remind us, age often overcomes all. There was an overwhelming sense of familiarity and homeliness which consumed me as I entered Leeds Stylus. Once again I found myself venturing the great unknown, but with a mature sense of self and accomplishment. After spending a few days in my hometown, Wednesday found me feeling nostalgic for old times as I arrived at the venue.
What previously had been my favourite “holiday” destination in the entire world for music was now my permanent place of residence; and the very place this show was held was on the same campus I graduated from merely months ago.
This campus has some immense history, being the site where The Who recorded Live at Leeds in 1970. The University of Leeds campus boasts a ‘who’s who’ list (no pun intended, I swear) that is constantly growing, including Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Muse, The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys. Ever wonder whatever happened to artists like these?
Arriving with plenty of time to spare, the multi-storey venue went from gently occupied to ultimately crammed in time for the first band to start. Sick Joy were a welcome influence on the evening, getting things started the right way with something of an inspirational throwback to Deaf Havana’s earlier years. With a brooding, existentially aware sound which had much to say with regards to the damning realities of today’s society, as a first-time listener I found myself more than at home listening to them. With vocals taking me back to my first time listening to Placebo, and instrumentation taking me back to my angsty youth as a colossal fan of Nine Inch Nails, while an unorthodox opening act was made to feel right at home with a set full of energy, passion and frustration with the landscape personified.
It set the stage majorly for the band to follow.
Deaf Havana embarked on an eighteen-song rollercoaster, seeing ninety minutes of absolute devotion to their craft and their fanbase. Older, wiser and with a refined sound brought about by more recent releases such as “The Present Is a Foreign Land”, as well as a reshuffling of priorities and lineups brought about thanks to the misfortune of COVID, the band were motivated as they exceeded in satisfying the needs of the near-capacity venue. The sight of a small six-year-old girl adorned in noise-cancelling earmuffs, sitting on her father’s shoulders, will forever be in my mind. The thoughtful nature of the band to then have the room erupt in a “Happy birthday” singalong will surely be a fond memory that child will remember forever.
They didn’t comply with the requests of a minority, who longed to be transformed back into their younger years with 2000s bangers. While they chanted for early hits in the encore, this reviewer was satisfied enough with the array of tracks put out by the band. With such a developed sense of sound and vast number of tracks to rely on, I understood the artistic integrity and did not feel the set had anything missing from them one bit.
The band were not meant to make it here, as COVID seemed primed to take them from our sight for good. After nearly twenty years together, despite the changes in presentation, style and members, Deaf Havana still made themselves seem dedicated to putting out solid music with a can’t-miss deliverance. They may have shed what brought them to the dance, and left the relics of the past behind for a rainy day, but at the end of the night I was left full from the smorgasbord of tasty tracks that left the senses tingling for more. It was great to feel that sense of familiarity and homeliness once more, proving that the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Deaf Havana have just kicked off their brand new tour, which will take them through Liverpool, Birmingham, Southampton, Oxford, Exeter and Brighton before culminating in Cambridge. Their new album, ‘The Present is a Foreign Land’ dropped in July 2022. An exciting blend of bangers and hits, you will not regret catching them on this tour. You can find out more by visiting their website, at https://deafhavana.com.
Sick Joy are off and running, on track to have a landmark year in their short history as a band. The Brighton group have landed themselves the spot supporting Deaf Havana through all of their current tour dates. With their debut album ‘We’re All Gonna F***ing Die’ hitting the shelves last August, you can find out more about them at https://sickjoy.com.
Photography by Emma Gibbon.
