I’m at a point in my life where I can admit I got waxed once. How so?
Well, keep reading but in any case, it hurt. Bad. I really thought I would never do it again. Well, until I got to see HotWax live.
Back on 16 February 2026, I watched the Hastings-via-Brighton trio sell out Berlin’s Mikropol. They were touring their debut album, Hot Shock, a record that had been on absolute repeat in my earphones. Released in 2025, it pulls together grunge, alt-rock, post-punk and hooks that immediately make you know the songs by heart.
They started the set with Strange to Be Here, my personal favourite, and moved on with hit after hit. She’s Got a Problem, Wanna Be a Doll or Tell Me Everything’s Alright all doing that thing HotWax are very good at: sounding messy, sharp and fully in control at the same time.
Tallulah and Lola looked like they had been playing together for 35 years, which is impressive considering they’re probably closer to their early 20s.
Their chemistry has that rare thing where guitar and bass don’t feel like two separate instruments. I was going to compare them to Frusciante and Flea, but that feels a bit too classic-rock-dad.
Maybe the better reference is Kim Deal and Kelley Deal. Very locked in and somehow always cooler than the room around them.
Big names, I know. But HotWax are bringing fresh air in a way that feels genuinely exciting.
Let’s not forget Alfie Sayers on drums, with the arduous task of keeping the backbone beating beneath Lola’s bass lines. Tough gig, great talent, cool player.
I was lucky enough to meet them after the show. We exchanged a few words while they signed my record and, luckily for them, I didn’t steal their precious time with unnecessary stories about the time I got waxed.
Even though, let’s be honest, that would have been a perfectly crafted segue. But this isn’t really about me. It’s about how you should start listening to HotWax and get your ears properly waxed by their talent.
They’ve just wrapped their tour and released a documentary. Follow them on socials, they’re hilarious, and thank me later.
Consider yourself HotWaxed.
All images were taken by Pablo Iriarte with the permission of the artist and venue and are subject to copyright.
For usage rights, please contact photo@piriurdi.es .
