The Guest List – Live Review – The Polar Bear, Hull
By Brad Jones, April 2026
If early album access lanyards on the merch stand weren’t enough of a signifier, a set oozing with quality at the Polar Bear in Hull was undoubted proof that up-and-coming indie rock band The Guest List are album-ready.
Leeds-based four-piece The North started the night off emphatically, bringing exuberant energy and a sense that everyone in attendance were witnessing music built for bigger venues which stuck around for the rest of the night. A barrage of heavy-hitting, punchy indie tracks and a claim that ‘Hull is goated and undeserving of a bad rep’ from vocalist Billy Memphis was more than enough to get a mixed-age audience on side and ready for the main event. An impressive performance worth the price of admission on its own.
As a result, The Guest List’s opening track ‘Loose Tongue’ immediately reignited the life and anticipation in the room with its electrifying guitar riff and catchy chorus. Bassist Sid Wallace then made his mark with his rendition of a French poem in ‘Ruine’ from their 2025 EP ‘When The Lights Are Out’, a moment which set the tone for the band’s seamless ability to showcase each member’s individual talents and interchange that with immaculate collective chemistry.
“Carved a connection”
After laying down the tools in their arsenal with a track which is unique to them until now, the combination of ‘She’s Not Around’ and ‘When The Lights Are Out’ to follow knitted things together in the comforting, assured soft indie rock manner with which fans have become accustomed to.
Throughout their 12-song set, the five-piece Manchester band made light work of putting each and every element of what makes them stand out on display. Frontman Cai Alty was a man of few words when it came to crowd interaction, but through the more jovially performed debut single ‘Won’t You Leave Me Alone’ and new single ‘If Ever Your Devil Is Kind’ – where the sense of longing and pain in the lyrics reflected in his expression – he carved a connection between the crowd and the band’s journey effortlessly.
From there, established singles ‘Mary’ and ’161’ are proof of the band’s focus on tackling topics such as domestic abuse and loss, and using their music as a force for good. In the case of ‘Mary’ in particular, they demonstrated their capacity to partner hard-hitting lyrics with head-banging guitar solos and ear worm instrumentals in order to appeal to those who care more about how the music sounds just as much as those hellbent on unearthing the hidden meaning behind every word they say. ‘You Should Care’, the band’s upcoming single, is another astute example of this but with more of a personal touch to the lyrics.
“Closing anthem”
With that being said, it was befitting of them to end the set in the fashion they did. First was the recently-released ‘Something Real’, a takedown of the current media and political landscape. Then came a very deliberate transition from that track’s parting lyrics – “I know I could blow your mind with something real” – into ‘Weatherman’, a passionate, pacy closing anthem which touches upon environmental destruction and the urgency of climate change. There are some in the crowd who resonate and relate deeply to those lyrics, but it was a Friday night and many others were a few drinks deep, unable to stop themselves from being taken by the instantly catchy backing tracks which accompanied such poignant words, bringing the night to a spectacular close.
With their confidence ever-brewing and their versatility ever-growing, The Guest List are making their mark on the indie scene on their own terms. Listen to their music, go see them on their current tour or at various festivals including Reading & Leeds this summer for further proof of that.
More info: theguestlist.band
images: Brad Jones
