Wednesday at Rough Trade East

Wednesday (Karly Hartzman solo)

Rough Trade East, 11 August 2025

I'm so excited I got to see Karly Hartzman doing a solo show ahead of the release of the new Wednesday album, Bleeds, at the wonderful Rough Trade East. We were treated to old songs and previews of new tracks, despite the fact that she had lost her luggage and had to borrow clothes to perform in! But what a treat it was and I know for sure now that the new record will definitely be an absolute favourite this year. 

I don't think I've bought a ticket faster this year when Rough Trade announced that Karly would be performing "Stripped Back & Solo". Seeing Wednesday live last year for the first time was a transcendental experience for me and their albums have been incredibly meaningful to me over the last couple of years, so when I say I was excited, it probably doesn't even express just how thrilled I was to get a ticket and how much I was anticipating this show.

Obviously I showed up super early to get a good spot and had a nice chat with a chap wearing a Wednesday t-shirt, who had seen them live numerous times, which I was supremely jealous of. I do have a ticket to see the full band next year at the Electric Ballroom too, so I shouldn't complain too much plus this solo show really was something special too.

While waiting in the queue we heard Karly inside rehearsing one of the new singles, Pick Up That Knife, so it was no surprise when she took to the stage smiling, and began playing it. She looked super cool, as ever, in a blue tiered polka dot dress with some revealing lace panels, cowboy boots and her hair tied up in plaits, although the fan placed at the front of the stage had her locks blowing ethereally throughout her set.

Pick Up That Knife is such a great song but it does have some pretty noisy, full band moments and I wondered how she would pull it off live, but I'm happy to say, it sounded fantastic even just with Karly on her bedazzled guitar, particularly at the end as she screamed "we'll meet you outside!" and thrashing at her fuzzed up instrument. It was pretty magical really but I also can't wait to hear the full band version live next year.

She explained how the airline had lost her luggage (not her guitar fortunately) and she had to borrow everything she was wearing, but missed all her things. It was also amusing to hear her talk about going into Pret A Manger ("I don't know if I'm pronouncing that right!"). I do hope they find her things though, but the borrowed dress was definitely a success.

She next said she was going to play an older track that the band have apparently re-recorded for the new record and it turned out to be Phish Pepsi, a song from the MJ Lenderman & Wednesday EP, Guttering, from 2021 (recently released on vinyl for the first time). The version on the EP is definitely on the lo-fi side and tonight's performance was pretty close to that, so it will be interesting to hear the new version on the record. Still it was exciting to hear her perform this older song and it sounded great.

It was also really lovely to hear the plaintive How Can You Live If You Can't Love How Can You If You Do, a gorgeous country lament that was perfect for Karly to perform alone. I love the album Twin Plagues and so my heart did leap with joy when she played this along with a stripped down version of the song Handsome Man (which I like to think she wrote about MJ Lenderman, but who knows).

There were a few songs from their breakthrough album, Rat Saw God, too, and surprisingly, the dischordant and loud Hot Rotten Grass Smell still sounded edgy and full and attitude and it was cool to see Karly bashing away at her guitar, while the softer song, Formula One had a girl behind me singing along with every lyric, something that made Karly smile (in one way it was lovely but it was also a bit annoying as I wanted to hear Karly sing not her).

There was only one track from Wednesday's first album (well technically their second, but the first was self-released and you can't get it anymore), the dreamy, shoegazey Billboard, and Karly's guitar sounded beautifully droney and lovely. As I'm fairly a newcomer to Wednesday live (this is only my second show afterall), it's always a thrill to hear these older tracks as I'm sure they will get rarer with each new record.

And speaking of the new record we got a lot more from it, oh yes, and it all sounded incredible. There was the grungy sounding Wound Up Here (By Holdin On) - a song that has been stuck in my head all week thanks to this performance. Karly's vocals on this song were particularly fantastic: I love when she goes in the higher notes on the chorus and of course I absolutely love the distorted guitar parts, which still sounded great on just her one guitar.

The first single, Elderberry Wine, maybe their sweetest most lonesome sounding song ever, again completely won my heart over and showcased just how affecting Karly's vocals are, as she closed her eyes and seemed to feel every word she was singing, particularly lines like "I find comfort that angels don't give a damn."

The final new song was one called Townies, which was accompanied by the story that inspired it: a beautiful girl she knew in high school was essentially bullied by other girls who were jealous of her and spread rumours that she gave a hand job during one of their classes. When she told her recently that she had written a song about it and the unfairness of it all, she replied "but Karly, I did give someone a hand job during homeroom!" The song was another fantastic, plaintive sounding, yet raw and beautifully ragged and fuzzy, with some amazing, screaming vocals at the end. I loved it and I can't wait to hear the recorded version.

Karly told us that she thinks the new album, Bleeds, is their best one yet and said it was nice to be out promoting a record she actually feels that way about. She also said so much of her music is inspired by her hometown of Asheville in North Carolina, and how much it meant that people from all around the world were interested and related to her little stories about where she lived and felt so much love for. She also spoke about her support of Palestine, and said that as a Jew herself she of course condemned the genocide, and wanted us all to know that while people have the impression that it was mostly Trump supporters where she's from, most were decent people who also condemned what is currently happening in Gaza. It's always nice to hear that the people whose music you love are also decent human beings.

For the final song, she gave us another highlight from Rat Saw God, the incredible Bull Believer. This is a song that seemingly relies on a lot of distortion and feedback, and of course screams, yet Karly managed to make it naturally sound like a solo track, yet still was loud and full of rage and we even got lots of those screaming vocals at the end, as she pulled away from the microphone and closed her eyes as she sang "Finish him!" It was absolutely amazing.

This show has definitely confirmed my suspicions that Karly Hartzman is probably the coolest girl on the planet right now. She couldn't remember when her own album was out (someone in the audience helpfully told her September 19th), but I am so ready for it now, I just know it will be stunning judging from this preview.

There wasn't a signing this time, as there often is with these Rough Trade shows, but we did get a print featuring artwork from the singles and the album which was signed by Karly herself and looks incredibly cool too, so I really couldn't have asked for more from this fantastic show. Roll on the Electric Ballroom next year!!!