Live Review + Gallery | HotWax @ Thekla, Bristol

HotWax

Thekla, Bristol

4th February 2026

Photography by Rosie Risdale

Rosie Risdale

Hi my name is Rosie! I am a Midlands born, Bristol based photographer, writer and interviewer who has been an active member of the music scene since I was 17. I seek to capture the tiny moments of a gig, the human connection that we can find in venues all across the world, I live for gigs with power and meaning, that speaks for the people. In my personal work, I focus on exploring memory, intimacy and social connection through from my own life experiences and those talk to around me.

We catch alternative rock trio HotWax at Bristol’s Thekla, for a wild night of bangers and a powerful call to support grassroots venues

Anticipation had been burning for hours as I shimmied my way around the packed crowd nestled firmly into the belly of the iconic Thekla boat. It felt like a genuine mission to get myself around the masses of people ready to see HotWax take to the stage on their biggest tour yet.

From the moment HotWax entered the stage, there was an undisputed fire radiating around them. Dressed in black with killer heels to boot, lead vocalist and guitarist Tallulah Sim-Savage floated in with ease, beginning the show with the band’s signature snarling sound, one that holds no punches and hits you right where it needs to, ebbing and flowing with a mixture of melodic and aggressive energy.

Despite their “no shits to give” attitude, their relationship with the crowd was beautiful, Sim-Savage’s gaze hitting each and every one one of us as she thanked everyone gracefully for being there, joking about how she’d never played on a boat before.

Whilst I had only listened to a few of their songs on the regular before the gig, I found myself awestruck at level of musicality displayed on stage, not only in terms of vocals, but also the way they kept the show teetering on the edge of a full venue mosh. Sim Savage and bassist Lola Sam often played back to back, or crouching to fan level, singing straight into their souls. Sam was particularly impressive in her athleticism, lifting her bass up and down in the air, creating some true “rock god” shapes.

One standout was ‘Treasure,’ a song inspired by the Riot Grrrl era and one that wouldn’t sound out of place in a coming of age movie set in the golden years of grunge. Its repetitive nature always comes back to the nature of infatuation that we have whilst young, with “she loves me, she loves me not” attitudes seeping through in the lyricism. It packs a relatable punch; we all have to learn life lessons through transformative and sometimes painful moments.

Another highlight I truly sank my teeth into was ‘Chip My Teeth For You,’ a song which perfectly encapsulates the bands most recent project, and the ‘Hot Shock’ that Savage describes as happening when you care for a situation so much it overtakes everything else in life.

‘Dress Our Love’ is a punchy track following a more traditional rock chord progression, which follows the journey of loving and hating someone so much that it consumes you, with the heavier guitar bringing together the depth of the lyrics in an utterly satisfying but heartbreaking way.

Perhaps the most important moment of the show was the explanation given by the band as to why they were playing only at grassroots venues. They explained to an enraptured audience the importance of supporting live music in a world full of hatred and uncertainty, and how music will always bring together all sorts of people from different backgrounds. This is why all of our smaller, independently run venues need help, from protection against money-hungry landlords to allowing young artists to develop and grow in these spaces, just as the greats did.

The quality of their playing and their obvious desire to do conquer the insecurities of the music world , one grassroots gig at a time in collaboration with the Music Venue Trust, is why this band deserves all of the flowers thrown at them. It’s no surprise then, that the majority of their twenty two days on the tour are completely sold out. The people yearn for artists to fight back and keep spreading awareness for a cause that we are all so passionate towards. I’m so excited what is to come from this talented trio.