Gig: Haunt the Woods at Moles, Bath
It’s no secret I’m a Haunt the Woods fan. But before this week, we hadn’t even had the chance to see the Cornwall-quarter—comprised of Jonathan Stafford (vocals, rhythm guitar), Phoenix Elleschild (lead guitar) Oliver Bignell (drums) and Jack Hale (bass)—play live. That all changed Tuesday at Moles, Bath’s well-known alternative music venue, as the band came through on the final dates of their Ubiquity tour.
The Dressing Room
The night kicked off with a burst of energy as the first opener, The Dressing Room, took the stage. A relatively fresh face on the scene, this five-piece band immediately grabbed the audience's attention with their 60s/70s twangy vibe and driving, chugging guitar riffs. What was truly impressive was that, despite being only two weeks old, The Dressing Room delivered a set of danceable jams that showcased a remarkable cohesion among the band members. The chemistry on stage was palpable, and enjoyed by everyone in the room.
Zaffiros
Following The Dressing Room, Zaffiros took the stage, presenting a stark contrast in musical style. This three-piece ensemble immediately impressed with their full sound and complex compositions, finding themselves somewhere on the spectrum between post-rock and post-hardcore influences. What stood out with Zaffiros was the intricacy of their music. The bass runs, executed flawlessly on a 5-string bass, added depth to their sound that was both captivating and immersive.
A young group, we couldn't help but sense that Zaffiros is still in the process of finding their musical identity, teetering on a scale between anthemic rock and straight-forward screamo/hardcore, reminiscent of At The Drive In or Wild Beasts, especially evident in their final song. However, they’ve perked our ears and it was heartwarming to see young crowd turning up on a Tuesday night to support and jam to hard-hitting local music. We’ll definitely we watching with this band’s musical journey leads.
Haunt the Woods
As the anticipation in the venue reached its peak, Haunt the Woods took the stage to deliver a captivating performance that transcended the boundaries of their recorded music. The set kicked off with the album opener, “Fever Dream”, and the foursome seamlessly working alongside the orchestral backing track—a fitting and obvious choice for an opener that set the tone for the night.
“Gold” followed, enveloping the audience in the ambient beauty that characterises both the track and their recent record. The atmosphere in the venue shifted with each note and it became quickly apparent that this gig was not merely a performance; but an immersive exploration. The crowd responded with audible expressions of enjoyment, particularly when the band moved their third track and the epic release, "Save Me."
“Equilibrium” closed their opening phase, a deliberate nod to the band’s latest release Ubiquity, as the first four songs mirrored the opening tracks of the album, seamlessly bridging recorded work and the live experience. Would we be treated to a total album play through? I wouldn’t have been surprised; a rare undertaking that this group could undoubtedly achieve. But I was surprised when we diverged from the recent album for “Elephant”, the second track from the 2020 album, Opaque. “Elephant” is the track that originally turned my head for this band, and continues to be a personal favourite. I didn’t expect to hear it and so glad to see it included.
Halfway through the set, we continue the new tracks with “Now is Our Time”. Arguably the bands most aggressive song, Elleschild even broke a string, a rare occurence, to which Thom quipped “who needs six strings”? Not Haunt the Woods, they could make a banger from a tin can.
The band continued to weave in familiar tunes from their six-year discography, to the thrill of their audience, including the track “Helter Skelter” from their debut EP, The Line which had everyone singing along.
A track that had previously sparked discussion in my review of Ubiquity, “Numb”, took on new life in the live setting. My initial reservations about the recorded version were well and truly dispelled as the song unfolded on stage. I can now say that this track epitomises the live Haunt the Woods experience. “Numb” sings. It’s a powerful showcase of the band's ability to build intensity, with the group’s quintessential powerful drums, soaring vocals, pointedly melodic guitar, punctuating bass and the poignant lyrics.
“The Line, Pt. II” marked another high point in the set. By now we’ve all heard Elleschild’s guitar solo featured in the song, a beautifully constructed melodic line that builds tension and grants blissful release. Seeing this effortlessly executed live was, profound to say the absolute least. Though a self-proclaimed metal-head, I hear a melodic thoughtfulness reminiscent of Jim Hall, and would find it hard to believe this young guitarist isn’t finding learning and inspiration far beyond the metal-remit.
The band seamlessly transitioned through their repertoire, continuing the journey with “Ubiquity”, “Overflow” and “Beautiful Catastrophe”, the oldest song in their catalog, showcasing the evolution of sound over the years. I was again surprised during this set to see “Ubiquity” and “Overflow” included. Assuming they would be challenging tracks to execute in a live setting, with complex harmonies and layering, I wrongfully assumed they wouldn’t translate as easily as the more anthemic songs work so comfortably. However, the foursome rise to every challenge, beautifully delivering these two tracks, and continue to solidify my belief that this is a band deftly capable of a mature and diverse sound.
As the end of the set drew near, the palpable excitement continued to build, never waning. Whispers and exclamations of anticipation reverberated through the crowd, with fans expressing a collective sentiment, “They have to close with “Said and Done.” They just have to.” The air buzzed with energy as fans around me were literally bouncing with excitement, their enthusiasm a testament to the emotional connection that Haunt the Woods have forged with their listeners.
When the familiar chords of “Said and Done” finally filled the venue, the eruption of cheers and applause was nothing short of euphoric. In a recent interview, Stafford shared with us that, for him, the second half of Ubiquity’s,
“is about building towards “Said And Done”. I feel like “Said And Done” for me is so honest. It's so real. And it's so raw. It's the perfect way to end that record.”
We couldn’t agree more that “Said and Done” is both the perfect way to end that record, and the perfect way to end Tuesday night’s set, leaving the audience in utter awe. That is at least until the cheering and chanting for “one more song!” had the group back onstage for an encore of “Red”, also from their 2020 album Opaque.
It was a thrill to finally witness Haunt the Woods take the stage, delivering a performance that is starting to transcend the boundaries of a typical gig. As they continue to build new layers of complexity into their music and into their performance, each song (already a sonic journey in their own right) becomes a unique exploration beyond mere entertainment. But wherever this group goes next, they’re already leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of everyone present.
Not to mention, they’re wonderfully kind off-stage.
Catch Haunt the Woods on the last night of tour at The Junction in Plymouth on 25 November. And we can’t wait to see what next year has in store!
