Head Noise, a trio from the south Wales Valleys, delivered a dynamic, oddball and theatrical performance on the last Friday of May, whose funky pumping synths and shouty punk vocals echoed 80s synthpop and new wave. The atmosphere was buzzing in The Moon in Cardiff, with a cheerfully excited audience containing what seemed like a steady fanbase.

With frontman Mitch Tennant’s outspoken punk vocals, Jordan Brill’s spacey synthesisers and Wayne Bassett on added synth, the lighting and visuals added to the immersive experience that is Head Noise. Their set featured selections from the band’s newest release – five-song EP Scram, its title described by Bassett as “a nickname for a purge of a nuclear facility and nuclear apocalypse in a tongue in cheek kind of way.”

Candid Camera, a highlight from the EP, really got the audience going with its funky techno synthesisers, electronic drums and shouty vocals – including the catchy chorus “Smile cos you’re on candid camera,” which in spite of the fun and funky nature of the song, covers the bleaker reality of hidden surveillance. Robotic vocoder vocals made appearances throughout the gig, adding to the futuristic theatrical nature of the night. 

Tennant has great energy, interacting brilliantly with the crowd and making you as a spectator feel part of the experience. We are treated to crazy LED sunglasses, hats, and – for a song titled Microwave – a microwave. Occasional keytar solos brought even more of an 80s vibe to the evening. With Bassett and Brill layering the vocals with bold and hypnotic synths, Head Noise’s set added up to an exhilarating experience, leaving the night on an electric high in Cardiff.  

The Moon, Cardiff, Fri 27 May

words and photos AMANDA HYNAM for BUZZ CULTURE