High Fade 19th November 2024

As a part of their very lengthy UK tour, High Fade made an appearance at Hot Box in Chelmsford, where I was working at the time. They had done three nights in a row, but I thought their first, the 19th of November 2024, was their best.

After their first gig with us, at midnight, we celebrated the launch of their debut album, Life's Too Fast. By the time their time in Chelmsford had concluded, the whole town knew the tune to Fur Coat, and started inside jokes we still share.

I had never heard more praise from the audience since I started working. It was like watching celebrities play. I figured in a couple of months, maybe sooner, they'd have finished touring their album, taken it to the States, and come back with at least a million listens on Spotify. I wasn't wrong about any of that.

The lads are nice: Harry Valentino, their front man, works overtime nightly to ensure no one in the audience has noticed they haven't got a second guitarist! He and Oli Sentance on bass are old mates from high school, and they make a dream team only previously heard in high performing disco acts of the seventies. They both complimented my trousers on the first night, and were elated I wore my fur coat completely by chance.

As for someone whose trousers (or shirt) were nowhere to be found, drummer Calvin Davidson sported nothing but a kilt for the whole gig. Despite the lack of attire, there was certainly nothing lacking from the music. Cal got on the mic on what I thought was my favourite tune of High Fade, about his biology teacher. This tune is nowhere to be found on Spotify, but I hope they come to their senses and get that recorded, because it was hilarious!

The nights were all immense fun. Even from behind the bar, I could hear the undeniable funk and boogied all night long. I had tons to report back to my friends, who couldn't believe their ears when I told them I met High Fade.

They then got to see them in Birmingham. I planned to chase them down into London, but I will patiently await their sophomore record. I have no doubt it'll be just as funky.