LIVE FROM THE PIT: Seahaven and Carsick

SEAHAVEN have always felt like a band suspended in that liminal space between confession and catharsis, and revisiting their world now feels a bit like opening a long‑sealed letter - you brace for the sting, but you’re drawn in anyway. What makes them compelling isn’t just the moodiness or the slow‑burn tension they’ve perfected; it’s the way their songs seem to articulate emotions people don’t usually say out loud. Performing their album Winter Forever in full, to celebrate 15 years since the release, supported by Salisbury punks CARSICK, SEAHAVEN opened the first night of their tour, at the Bodega in Nottingham, showing the crowd why they are are quintessential melodic hardcore/emo band. 

Opening the evening was CARSICK, a rising Salisbury four‑piece, who gave similar vibes to THE LAFONTAINES and KID KAPICHI, with a strong, undeniable accent coming through with each lyric. Back by Lord of the Rings standees, the band, built around brothers JOE and JACK RICHARDSON, joined by JACK HARDIMAN on bass and TOM ARMSTRONG on drums delivered a genre‑bending set, with stand out tracks being Thatchers Gold, Is What it Is and Pub Watch. A two man pit erupted mid-set, encouraged by front man JOE, in the attempt to win the converted prize of a Herbie Reloaded DVD, much to the rest of the audience's amusement. Their sound landed somewhere between post‑punk grit and indie‑dance energy, but the crowd enjoyed every minute.

Taking to the stage to perform Winter Forever in full, SEAHAVEN got stuck into the atmosphere of the record immediately. With introduction to the band, to the songs and limited crowd interaction, it was a little surprising but it didn’t affect the way the audience were reacting to the songs being played before them. Formed in 2009 in Torrance, California, the four piece band, who apparently hadn't been to Nottingham in “150 years” according to front man Kyle Soto, appeared as if they were returning to a place they’d half‑forgotten but still felt tethered to. The crowd responded with that quiet, anticipatory hush you only get when a crowd knows exactly what kind of emotional excavation they’ve signed up for. Soto was accompanied by fellow band members Cody Christian on guitar, Mike DeBartolo on bass and Eric Findlay on drums, who matched his restraint, emotional intensity, and 

almost disarming stillness with familiarity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8sz8VoLKZo

Playing Winter Forever from beginning to end, from Goodnight, to Black & White, to closing track PV (performed with an extended intro) was a defiant move. Soto’s voice, soft, frayed at the edges, but unwavering, cuts through the mix with the kind of intimacy that makes you feel like you’re overhearing something private. The band played with a restraint that felt deliberate, they weren’t here to overwhelm so much as to seep under the skin. It was clear that they knew how much the album meant to those who had come to see them; nostalgia pays and SEAHAVEN were not about to let the audience down. 

Following the closing track of Winter Forever, a steady set of tracks from previous albums made an appearance; including Head in the Sand (Blinding Son), Moon and Flesh. In addition to these tracks, SEAHAVEN gave the audience a taste of what's to come; Long Goodbye from new self-titled album made an appearance, as well as Midnight Hour and February Flowers making their live debut. Closing out the set with Andreas was a clear decision, with the crowd singing every word back at Soto, with the energy of an arena crowd.

With a new record coming out in June, SEAHAVEN shows no signs of slowing down. Choosing to open their tour in a venue as intimate and atmospheric as the Bodega was not lost on the crowd. The darkness, the smokiness and the almost synchronised swaying of the crowd made for a show to remember.

Words: Lou Viner-Flood

Photos: Libby Percival