LIVE FROM THE PIT: Headsend and Bloom

With festival season and summer drawing to a close, many music lovers are currently left waiting for their next music fix. Thankfully, fans were saved from their post-festival blues by recent All Points East performers HEADSEND,  as they took to the stage in Camden for a night of raw, unfiltered talent. 

Australian-based alt-rock grunge trio HEADSEND started out in 2024, and have supported the likes of WUNDERHORSE, TOOL and AC/DC. With fans queuing en masse in hopes of getting into their London gig, it was clear that HEADSEND were more than ready to headline in the UK.   

A crowd gathered in the bar downstairs, eagerly waiting for the venue doors to open. Those that got there early were treated to the sounds of support act BLOOM soundchecking in the space above, the bass reverberating through the whole building as anticipation for the night grew. 

After navigating a few technical difficulties, the night was underway. Under cool, blue lights, BLOOM launched into their first song of the night. Unusually, there was no setlist or introduction from the band about what was to unfold. The band have yet to release their music on any streaming platforms, but have been teasing snippets of original songs along with acoustic covers to their tens of thousands of TikTok followers. 

Like any true alt-rock band, the four-piece Bristolians kicked off their first song showcasing their technical skills with a guitar shred solo before launching into the main melody and sustained vibratos.

Keeping the energy high, they intensified the grunginess of their set with a heavy riff from lead guitarist Toby Coup. The band built up the tune nicely, Reuben Griffiths adding a steady cymbal and drum beat with bassist Finley Cornwall and lead singer/guitarist Charlie Port joining in as the beat dropped as the crowd moved to the rhythm. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfA62FtYWQ

As the band moved through their set with ease, Charlie put down his guitar, trading it for a pint glass. It was at this moment the crowd got to see a new side to BLOOM. Short, catchy guitar riffs and a steady, slow drumbeat complemented Charlie’s raspy vocals. He stood sipping beer in between vocals like a Gallagher brother on stage, with the talent and edge of an alt rockstar. 

Anticipation built as the crowd, already buzzing from the support act, were ready for the main event. Having made their All Points East debut just a day prior, there was a mixture of nostalgia from fans who were able to witness their performance with excitement from those who were seeing the trio for the first time. 

HEADSEND wasted no time demonstrating their talent, opening with Stove. Drummer Bon Soric led the charge on this track with his steady but equally energetic beats. Facing each other, the band fed off this energy, bassist Kyuss King following suit, with lead singer Rasmus King launching into raw, gritty vocals. Stove created an electrical current in the room, with the crowd instantly thrashing their heads.  

Moving through the set, fans were treated to upbeat rhythms of And Angel and Doo doo, both tunes reminiscent of the 90s grunge scene. 

Before continuing the show, frontman Rasmus took a brief moment to introduce the band and express thanks to the crowd for their support, of which the room erupted into thunderous cheers. 

The audience was treated next with Biopsy of an Unknown Growth, HEADSEND’s latest single. The haunting vocals and the guitar melody reverberated throughout the room, building up momentum to a crescendo where drummer Bon really let loose. The room exploded as a powerful tidal wave of pure emotion flooded into the crowd before drawing back again to the grungy melody of the next verse. 

Chugg kept the momentum high, with the themes of anger and confusion reflected in the short, sharp riffs. Slowing down as the lyrics of ‘“I’m asking for a friend/You’re free until the end” echoed around the room before picking up the pace as the band went into the next verse. With epic changes in tempo, Chugg cemented HEADSEND’s power within the grunge scene.     

Finishing off the night, the band went straight into their unreleased track Slayerish. The low vocals and simple, clean repetition of guitar riffs immediately sent the crowd into a hypnotic sway. Bursting into raw screams, the song took on a new life as the band did what it does best - jam out at full force. The sound was literally bouncing off the walls as Rasmus crashed into the side of the stage as the trio went all out for their final song.  

The way that HEADSEND effortlessly commanded the energy of the night was magnetising. There is no doubt that HEADSEND possess an authentic talent, and are certainly ones to watch in the alt-grunge scene.  Words: Mary Horner Photos: Simon Whytock