The indie-alternative noise of five-piece band, The Hails, traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast. Touring the nation this year for the release of their deluxe version of their latest album What’s Your Motive, they made a pit stop in the famous Voodoo Room of House of Blues San Diego. Fans were quick to sell out this show after seeing on third party websites that local legends, Foxtide, were set to open the show. 

The Hails at their headline show on February 8, 2024 by Vanessa Chan

I’ve seen Foxtide perform a handful of times over the years, yet it’s still so surprising to me that they aren’t selling out venues across the nation. From seeing them perform in tiny centers, to the backyards of friends of mine, there’s nothing better than seeing them on a stage that isn’t built by college students. Two Halloweens ago, they played at my friend’s house and the faulty stage equipment ended up crashing down on them mid-set. And they still continued to play after the fact. I guess you could say these boys know how to put on an unforgettable show. 

Frontman Elijah Gibbins-Croft and drummer Ian Robles jamming out on February 8, 2024 by Vanessa Chan

As soon as the Spotify music playing throughout the speakers of the venue came to a halt, fans quickly pulled out their phones to record Foxtide entering the stage. Their unique surf jazz sound mixed with punching rock n’ roll influences is perfect for the ears of all music lovers. Each song on their discography is so different from the next. 

Frontman Elijah Gibbons-Croft and and guitarist Dom Friedly on February 8, 2024 by Vanessa Chan

The crowd screamed the lyrics to every song with Foxtide. I’m positive the noise echoed out the doors of the venue and into the streets of Downtown San Diego. The band sang fan-favorites such as “Hold On”, “What Good Is It?”, “She’s Not Yours”,“All I C”, and their iconic cover of the Icarly theme song. They even sang “Tide” after the crowd begged for one more song. The San Diego music scene is genuinely superior. 

Elijah Gibbons-Croft of Foxtide on February 8, 2024 by Vanessa Chan

After Foxtide exited the stage, fans were counting down the minutes until The Hails would go on. Anxiously checking the time on their phones every few seconds, it wasn’t long until the room went dark again. Big smiles could be seen from across the room once the band jumped on stage. The Hails themselves couldn’t believe so many people were in the room to see them. 

Fans of Foxtide and The Hails loving every minute of their sets on February 8, 2024 

Singing songs off their debut album He Seems Upset and their latest album, the crowd danced and sang along with the band for the whole hour. Frontman, Robert Kingsley, made sure to keep the fans in the front row company by joining them down by the barricade. It was such a lovely show – you could tell everyone in the venue was just so happy to be there. Singing songs from their discography such as “Sippin on the Daylight”, “Younger”, “Stay”, “Caligula”, “LCD”, and “Sugar”, the crowd was buzzing about every aspect of the show.  

The Hails performing “Sippin on the Daylight” on February 8, 2024 by Vanessa Chan