Live at Brighton Music Hall: Alfie Templeman and Thomas Headon
All photos courtesy of Ally Giust
I had the pleasure of visiting Brighton Music Hall in Allston, Massachusetts to watch and photograph indie artists, Alfie Templeman and Thomas Headon. I arrived at the venue about an hour before doors opened at 7 p.m. You may think this was too early to show up, but by that time, the line had extended around the corner of the street. Once 7 p.m. hit, the doors opened, and exhilarated fans began to flow into Brighton Music Hall. Although I was relatively unfamiliar with both Templeman and Headon’s music, I couldn’t help but feed off of the crowd’s energy, and this excitement would only grow as the night went on.
At 8:03 p.m., Alfie and his band took the stage. At this point, I was in the photo pit with my camera ready, but the electricity radiating off of the audience behind me once the guitar rang out was insane. He opened with “Candyfloss,” a feel-good number. The stage was bathed in colorful low light, playing well with the funky groove of the instrumentals in the music. There is something special about Templeman’s stage presence that is intimate and personal but also has that classic British-gentleman charm.
In terms of style, the best way to describe Templeman’s music is a mixture of indie rock and 80’s glam pop. Think, indie guitar licks meet Duran Duran drums. There’s so much nuance to the instrumental element of Templeman’s songs—probably due to his extensive 11-instrument background. The entire band was phenomenal. The band’s bassist, KC Blackwater, was a stand-out. The way he took command of the bass was beautiful and almost as though he had become a part of the instrument. The magical atmosphere encompassed the entire venue, and it was due to the synchronicity of the band and their chemistry with the audience.
During the song “Circles,” there wasn’t a still body in the venue; everyone was swaying and jumping around to the beat. Each song sounded better than the next, but the one that really sold the show was their performance of “Wait, I Lied.” The rhythmic structure of the song was outstanding– an amalgamation of a basic rock beat, casanova-esque lyric delivery, and a bouncy bass line. The number was followed by “3D Feelings,” a funky dance song with relatable lyrics that you can’t help but scream. Templeman ended his set with “Happiness In Liquid Form,” and if the audience wasn’t singing along before, they certainly were now. The crowd’s screams were so deafening that Alfie’s voice was nearly drowned out. It was truly a moment of solidarity between everyone in Brighton Music Hall.
Once the track finished, I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, I don’t know how you can top a show like that.” He had rocked the socks off of Boston with not only his musicianship but also his generally sweet disposition. After his set, he walked along the barrier hugging fans, taking photos, and signing autographs before he had to be pulled away. Then, it was time for the anticipation to begin again. Headon was set to take the stage in twenty minutes.
At precisely 9:15 p.m., the lights in Brighton Music Hall dimmed and Frank Sinatra’s smooth voice came through the speakers singing “New York, New York.” At the final ring of his voice, a jovial young man burst onto the stage– Thomas Headon. If one were to describe Headon’s sound, they’d say it’s a slightly ‘poppier’ blend between The 1975 and Role Model. Everything about his performance screamed DANCE! He has a commanding stage presence, with a swagger to him that is reminiscent of a 20-year-old Harry Styles. Never in one place for more than a few seconds, Thomas bounced around the stage throughout the show to ensure that all fans received the performance of a lifetime. His opening song, “How Do I Know?” had everyone rocking in place during the verses and bopping around throughout the chorus. It has a catchy hook and melodic instrumentals, which translated well across the venue.
Unlike Templeman, Headon also incorporated two covers into his setlist, the first of which was Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.” This was an inspired choice, as it really brought everyone together to sing along: who doesn’t know “You Belong With Me?” Headon has a very strong teen-heartthrob energy to him; the never-ending sea of women scream-professing their love for him during the show made that much clear. Who can blame them– he’s a very swoon-worthy guy. Things slowed down a little bit with his songs, “Victoria,” and “Butterflies,” where all the couples in the room swayed to the beat.
There were two moments throughout his set that stuck. For one, Headon’s second cover of the Hannah Montana theme song was an unexpected, yet welcoming surprise. It was clear that he was having a great time on stage, and that carried over to the audience's experience. The second moment that stuck out was Thomas’s performance of his song “Clean Me Up,” a tune with honest lyricism. Everyone in the room not only knew all the words to this song but truly adored it. You could tell that Headon was really taking in the moment as the audience sang his own words back to him.
Overall, Alfie Templeman and Thomas Headon’s show at Brighton Music Hall on a cold November night genuinely raised spirits. I went into the show not knowing too much of their music, but I walked out a big fan. Every song I heard is now currently sitting in my playlist, on repeat. If you’re interested in hearing from either of these artists, you can check them out on Spotify and Apple Music, or see them on tour!