By Petyr Campos
Softcult a Toronto-based grunge duo consisting of twin siblings Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn along with lead guitarist Brent McSwiggan and bassist Phil Hirst played at Bottom of the Hill Wednesday night.
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Softcult’s list of influences includes The Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones and My Bloody Valentine. Softcult launched in 2020 and is currently touring promoting their recently released fourth LP Heaven. Their songs speak to female empowerment with the message, be the agents of change you want to see. Softcult’s music blends dreamy, atmospheric guitar lines and soft harmonies perfected in songs such as ‘Spoiled’ and ‘Haunt You Still’.
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Softcult gave a roaring performance to a pack audience at the Bottom of the Hill Wednesday night. Mercedes Arn-Horn and bassist Phil Hirst’s projected energy into the crowd was returned with equal feet thumbing, head bobbing. I see Softcult sticking around for quite some time because their music, lyrics and unique sound resonant not only with the younger Gen Z audience but older generations as well.
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Set List
Haunt You Still
Gloomy Gift
Take it Off
House of Mirrors
Spit it Out
Young Forever
Gaslight
BWBB
Perfect Blue
Someone 2 Me
One of the Pack
DrainHeaven
Uzumaki
Present is a Bay Area band formed in 2021 and comprised of lead singer and guitarist Alex Hunter, guitarists Craig Tally and Jordan Beaston, bassist Steve Radford, and drummer Daniel Hospitalier. Present describes their music as a modern take and mix of grungy alt-rock with a female vocalist.
Present just released their debut LP titled “Silver Lining” and it’s well worth your attention. Their music has muscle and intensity
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