I'm lucky enough that friends of mine will sometimes ask me what kind of music I'd recommend that they listen to. It's typically whatever pop-punk "it" band is relevant that year, but recently, I've been branching a little deeper into the bag, and I've been telling people to check out Holy Fawn. I do this for a myriad of reasons; first of all, I'm trying to repay a dear friend who kept reminding me to listen to them. When I finally did, it was "Candy," the lead track from their EP The Black Moon, which was released before all hell broke loose in 2020. That soon lead to me deep-diving into their debut EP Death Spells, which has become a staple in my rotation ever since. It's great music to have on while you're feeling particularly introspective, or if you're in need of some ambiance while you're doing your silly little tasks around the house, or if you're in need of a band whose genre-blending sound caught the ears of Deafheaven, who took the band on tour earlier this year. Those in attendance for those dates were gifted the opportunity to hear "Death is a Relief," what would become the first single from Dimensional Bleed, the band's sophomore release, which came out the same day Holy Fawn played to a sold-out crowd at Philadelphia's intimate Kung-Fu Necktie last week. A new album release, the band's first headlining tour, and their realization that their hard work is paying huge dividends, and taking them to further heights as well.
As the crowd filled in the spaces surrounding Kung Fu Necktie's modest stage, they were greeted with the hard-rocking sounds of Astronoid, whose ambient riffs were a perfect fit for the tour's community. Admittedly, I hadn't heard much of the band before they took the stage on September 9, but that will be changing after I got to witness their set. A stark contrast developed between the band's unassuming stature onstage, while their sound could have filled any of Philadelphia's biggest venues. Guitarist Casey Aylward led the way for the band, as he took most of the lead guitar work, while his face rarely appeared from behind his hair, which was constanstly in motion thorughout the set. Meanwhile, his guitar counterpart and Vocalist Brett Boland, whose high-pitched vocals perfectly complemented the band's intricate guitars, had his own moments to shine with his own axe as well. The band also has another star on their hands in drummer Matt St. Jean, whose passionate pounding of his kit, along with him belting out nearly every word to the band's songs, was a constant bright spot, and caught the attention of many in the crowd. It seems like each member of Astronoid is locked in to their instruments when playing, and the result is a band that sounds far beyond their age. Any tour would be better for having this talented group be a part of it, but they fit perfectly with Holy Fawn.
There's nothing like a show at a small venue. No matter how long the band's been around for, you just know that this is a setting you're likely not going to be able to see them in for very long, or ever again, for that matter. Holy Fawn's sound deserves to be blasted through the best speakers on the biggest stages, but what makes them special is that their sound is also enhanced when played in an intimate venue like Kung Fu Necktie, too. Whether it's the quiet, somber moments after the crashing opening of "Candy," the leadoff track of the set, or one of the many crescendos the band reached when weaving through Death Spells highlights like "Yawning" or "Seer," Holy Fawn delivered an inviting set that made everyone in the crowd feel as though they were seeing something special. When it came time to show off a few tracks from Dimensional Bleed, it was "Death is a Relief," the song that kicked off the hype for the band's new album, that earned one of the biggest reactions of the night. Onstage, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Osterman was jovial every time he addressed the crowd, conveying the band's collective excitement for the release of the album, the band's first-ever headlining tour in the US, and the fact that the show had sold out. Alongside Osterman's between-song positivity, countered by his mid-song brooding, drummer Austin Reinholz provided a stellar performance, mixing in backing vocals and melodies while he joined Astronoid's Matt St. Jean in his venture to hit his drums as hard as possible. Taking the center of the stage, bassist Alexander Reith was locked in, adding screams, melodies, and boundless energy and emotion throughout the set. Osterman's fellow guitarist Evan Phelps, who was barely the most reserved member onstage, added to the atmosphere of sound the band was creating, constantly fidgeting with his pedals and throwing himself into his performance. Holy Fawn left nothing in the tank at Kung Fu Necktie, and the crowd erupted with appreciation as the band ended their set.
Despite the fact that the band's hour-long set ended, Holy Fawn was not done thanking Philadelphia for providing an excellent release-day experience for the band. The next day, via the band's social media accounts, it was announced that Holy Fawn would be donating $100 of their take-home from the show to local Planned Parenthood chapters, a gift back to the city that had given them one of the best nights of their tour. The band also ended up doing this when their show in Brooklyn sold out, too, and proves once again why the band are my go-to recommendation for eager emo listeners these days. There's simply no one making music quite like Holy Fawn right now. Their live shows are and outpouring of emotion that commands the attention of its audience, and the band are keenly aware and appreciative of those who are supporting them. And on Dimensional Bleed, they've not only avoided that fabled sophomore slump, they've released one of the best albums of 2022, bar none. There's a line at the bookend tracks of Dimensional Bleed that have really struck a chord with me, and paint the perfect picture of Holy Fawn's predestined ascent through the metal-gaze scene. Osterman opines "I'll find you again, in some other life," assuring a lover (past, present or future) that even in parallel universes, some things are destined to be. It's quite likely that you'll be hearing the name Holy Fawn for a long, long time, so you might as well let them into your life now.
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