HONNE blows it out of the water at The Warfield

The art of HONNE’s newest album, Love Me / Love Me Not (2018), stares at me from the backdrop of the stage: a pristinely feminine face reflected in a handheld mirror, painted in bold pop-art tones. Love Me / Love Me Not is an ode to the duality of life and personal relationships, and the album art perfectly portrays this mood of introspection. Each track name on the album ends with a half-moon symbol, a reference to the pairing of good and bad in every part of life.

Like their newest album, HONNE’s performance on a chilly September night in San Francisco was a reminder to take the good with the bad in life. The band primarily played hits from their newest album, romance ballads such as “Day 1 ◑,” “Location Unknown ◑,” and “Crying Over You ◑”; HONNE’s debut album Warm on a Cold Night (2016) only came out to play a few times, with the album’s titular song as part of the duo’s encore. Although I was disappointed not to hear more songs from the band’s first album, it was refreshing to hear so much new music from the duo, who have only released a few singles since their first album in 2016.

Overall, the energy at the concert was wildly positive. The band’s main singer, Andrew Clutterbuck, hardly stood still throughout the first few songs. The stage lights flashed bright teals, reds, and purples, matching the bold energy portrayed by the pair on stage. The venue was filled to the brim with adoring HONNE fans; at one point, security guards started to block members of the audience from entering the lower levels of the Warfield, citing overcrowding. Unsurprisingly, most fans appeared to have brought their significant other in tow. When Andrew suggested to “put an arm around your special someone” at one point, it was clear that the audience was filled with couples. With the romantic on-again off-again theme of HONNE’s newest album, it seems inevitable that they would draw in so many fans in relationships. Yet, single or not, every member of the audience seemed entranced by the band’s performance.

Although HONNE’s newest album reflects on both the good and bad in life, I have nothing but good things to say about the band’s recent performance. With strong vocals, fun visuals, and upbeat romantic tunes, the duo truly displayed all of the components for a fun and carefree night. If you’re an alternative or electronic music fan who has a soft spot for cheesy love ballads, HONNE is the perfect choice for you.