Hamish Hawk - Scala, London, 5/2/2023
by Mark Rowland
published: 26 / 4 / 2023

intro
Mark Rowland at The Scala in London watches rising singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk play an exuberant post-punk set to promote his new album ‘Angel Numbers’.
At the release of his previous album, ‘Heavy Elevator’, Hamish Hawk was playing the Sebright Arms – a nice, but fairly small venue. Now, he’s headlining the Scala, and the place is packed. It’s a sure sign of how quickly Hawk is rising. He and his band have put the years in, releasing several albums before ‘Heavy Elevator’ started getting wider interest, and it shows. The band are tight and clearly having a great time, and Hawk struts and jerks around the stage like he owns it, his movements best summarised as ‘Ian Curtis, but having a great time’. The band is in town promoting the big, bombastic ‘Angel Numbers’, which takes the elements that make ‘Heavy Elevator’ great and puts them in IMAX – bigger, more epic, and, in some cases, louder. Hawk pulls almost exclusively from ‘Angel Numbers’ and ‘Heavy Elevator’. Opening with ‘Dog-Eared August’, an upbeat moment from the former, the band tears through ‘Elvis Look-Alike Shadows’ and ‘This, Whatever it is, Needs Improvement’, before slowing the pace with ‘Bridget St John’, ‘Rest & Veneers’ and ‘Daggers’. This ratio of two ‘Angel Numbers’ tunes to one ‘Heavy Elevator’, continues throughout the night. The crowd is energetic and appreciative, feeding off the band’s energy, which in turn feeds off of them. Hawk is a charismatic presence, quipping occasionally between songs. Confident and at times self-deprecating, he channels a classic sort of showmanship alongside his angular, post-punk dance moves. Hawk debuts a new song, ‘You Can Film Me’, which turns out to be a highlight of the set. Their spirited version of Talking Heads’ ‘Thank You For Sending Me an Angel’ leads into closer ‘Caterpillar’ its propulsive rhythms and semi-chanted vocals closing the proceedings perfectly. On the strength of this showing, it’s certainly feasible to expect Hawk to be filling out a much bigger venue the next time he passes through town.
Band Links:-
https://hamishhawk.com/https://www.facebook.com/hamishhawk
https://twitter.com/HHawkOfficial
Play in YouTube:-
Picture Gallery:-


interviews |
Interview (2021) |
![]() |
Hamish Hawk’s latest album, ‘Heavy Elevator’, is making an impression and gaining national airplay. He speaks to Mark Rowland about his need to mix things up, making songwriting an everyday habit, and managing expectations. |
reviews |
Angel Numbers (2023) |
![]() |
Diverse but confident new album from rising Scottish singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk who seems destined for major success |
most viewed articles
current edition
Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCartyPeter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
John Philip Shenale - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Loft - Interview
Vapors - Interview
Waeve - Club Academy, Manchester, 18/3/2025
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBeautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Cliff Richard and The Shadows - Comment
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Pere Ubu - Interview with David Thomas
Ken Loach - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Ringo Starr - Look Up
Shaw's Trailer Park - I Thought I Saw You
Leon Bridges - Leon
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart