Crawlers on Tour: A Performance That Will Alt-Rock Your World

Out on their first tour of the UK and North America, Crawlers are breaking into the music scene with brilliantly radiant songs about personal struggles and mental health. I wasn’t sure what to expect from their live performances on tour, but after watching them live at The Moroccan Lounge in the bustling city of Los Angeles, I now completely understand why the show was sold-out. The energy on stage was incredible. I don’t think there was a single moment when Holly Minto, the band’s vocalist, wasn’t enveloping the audience in tangible passion. Minto’s bunny hops while singing lifted the entire venue up to Cloud 9 with every springy jump. The stomp of Minto’s feet hitting the ground as they came back down to earth carried a wave of euphoric electricity that flowed into the bodies of everyone in the audience as if they were all copper coils. These sparks flowed freely through the crowd, increasing exponentially as they passed through each individual, building energy as each song progressed and exploding out through jumps, dancing, and screams by the end of each song. This beautifully hypnotic dance between Crawlers and their fans was one where happiness, acceptance, and love were at the forefront of the experience.

Additionally, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the radiative aura surrounding Amy Woodall on guitar, Harry Breen on drums, and Liv Kettle on bass guitar. The incredible chemistry between each performer was palpable: even though they were each engrossed in their own instruments, a silent conversation of excited glances and passionate playing kept them fully connected to each other and the audience without having to ever utter a word. The music spoke for itself. Their mesmerizing performances completely drew me into the music, so much so that I forgot about everything else going on in the world for the length of the show. As time passed I found myself wishing that it would go slower, hoping that if it did I would be able to savor this experience for an indefinite period of time.

While the energy of the performances themselves was incredible, elevating the concert, even more, was the beautifully safe and welcoming environment the band provided through a combination of lyrical vulnerability and comedy. After each song, Minto would speak to the crowd like a friend, briefly explaining the message behind each piece. During one of these lulls, Minto spoke about their own experiences with anxiety and extended support to the audience, exclaiming how proud they were of everyone who came to the show even though many in the crowd may experience similarly crippling fear when exposed to packed environments. As someone who personally struggles with anxiety, this was one of the most comforting and heartfelt extensions of support I had ever witnessed at a concert. Minto would further go on to proclaim support for the LGBTQIA+ community, saying that it was such an honor to have so many of Crawlers’ songs utilized by different communities on social media platforms, like TikTok, to get their individual voices heard.

The solace the audience found in Crawlers’ music and performance, however, was not a one-way street. The cultivation of a positive, supporting, and overall safe space through music and community is what has given the band the ability to be lyrically vulnerable. Minto expressed gratitude to the kind and loving community that listens to the band’s music, making it clear that Crawlers would not be able to do what it does without such an incredible support system of fans. Adding onto this heartfelt dialogue were Minto’s relentless comedic quips, whether it be about how enormous the United States is (driving 4 hours north from Los Angeles would keep you in California, where back in the UK you could drive through 4 countries in that amount of time) or how their outfit during the performance made them look like “Adam Sandler if he was a ghost” (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!). I couldn’t even count how many times I laughed during the show. The only thing left to be desired from Crawlers’ live performance was more music. I was sad the show ended when it did, after a short 45 minutes, so I can’t wait for future musical releases and concerts. The music was incredible and I, along with probably everyone else at the show, also left the venue at the end wishing we could all be best friends with the band.