On the 11th February local legends Baddy Issues support HotWax over at our place! Take a look through their thoughts on the local scene, reflecting on a busy 2025 and their undying love of smoked hummus.
We’re really excited to have you play over at Rescue Rooms, this is your first time here right? How are you feeling ahead of the show?
Super excited! We all grew up going to gigs at Rescue Rooms, and have seen some pretty epic shows on that stage. It’s going to be a moment and a half being able to grace it as a band. We are ready to bring the energy and whip up that crowd into a frenzy for Hotwax!
Last year was really busy for you guys, are there any particular highlights for you guys?
It was indeed! Bit of a blur really haha.
For me (Helaina) my biggest highlight was playing that first show as a full band, and feeling like everything was in its right place finally. Having the crowd sing back our lyrics is still a crazy amazing moment too. However some strong honourable mentions would be supporting SNAYX at The Bodega to a packed out room and also playing the famous Dublin Castle in Camden on our first tour. Being able to have shared a stage with the likes of Amy Winehouse , Madness, Wolf Alice etc. is a bit of a dream come true.
We’re loving the full band set up! How has the writing process changed since you first started?
So much better, right? So before, it was mainly myself (Helaina) writing and then dictating to my former drummer how I hear it in my head, and we built from there. However, since the switch up, it’s more of a collaborative process. Matt will have a cheeky riff he wants to show, which Posh will hear and build on and the Charlie will throw some drums over the top , and we birth the next tasty track together. However there is still a song or two where it will be more one person than another – but we all put our own stamp on it. Saying that though, sometimes it is still me making weird noises at the boys trying to explain an idea – despite the fact I can play guitar and piano – hoping that they get what I’m trying to say 😂
Can we expect to hear any new music in the near future?
Hell yeah! We are currently working on a new song which I can give you a cheeky exclusive and tell you the name of – as long as you promise to not tell anyone (hehe) called ‘Name Me 3 Songs’. I’ve played the same set for nearly a year now, and both myself and the boys are dying to inject some new energy into our shows, so you won’t have that much longer to wait before you hear it!
Nottingham has always seemed to have a flourishing music scene, are there any particular people or places that you look towards for inspiration when it comes to writing and performing?
It has, and I feel very blessed that I share a band with 2 really inspiring guys. Matt is a Nottingham music legend, playing in bands such as Heck and Haggard Cat. The same with Posh and Palm Reader. I’ve been a spectator in the crowd watching these guys throw it down since I was a teenager, so the fact I get to play with them now still feels like a bit of a fever dream.
For me, I was working and hanging in punk pubs such as The Angel, Foreman’s, Tap n Tumblr, Rock City. They very much shaped the music I personally listened to and was exposed to, the same with Charlie too. The Angel used to be an institution- with the likes of Lamb of God, Slayer, Arctic Monkeys etc. Playing there before graduating to the bigger Notts stages. Our silly little band wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for these pivotal venues.
We are blessed to live in such a great city and I feel inspiration can be found in all those places.
You’re known for your rowdy live shows, what’s the one thing you want the audience leaving the show to think?
We do love to get rowdy haha.
We want the audience to leave thinking they not only watched a great show and laughed their heads off – but also got to take part. No one gets to leave a Baddy show without knowing the words to at least 1 song.
Lastly, if you could have one meal waiting for you backstage after the show what would it be?
So we have the token vegan member of the band, and we should probably factor him in when choosing this (sorry Charlie) , so just to make sure everyone’s happy… Lidl/Aldis smoked hummus. Matt is currently obsessed with it , Charlie can eat it, I have hummus tattooed on me I love it that much and Posh – who eats anything anyways – would be happy with it.
However we would probably also be happy with 25 kilos of sushi and a bottle of tequila. Although we tried the tequila thing before and it didn’t go so well hahahah.
Baddy Issues support HotWax at Rescue Rooms on the 11th February. Tickets available here.
