Update: Hey, Chels’ show at Whistle Stop on Aug. 8 has been canceled.
I always find the way bands evolve to be fascinating. In best case scenarios, it feels like an organic process sparked by a change in the way a band sees itself and what they want to do. But often there’s a forced nature to it, like a band jettisoning aspects of itself to keep up with the times.
Luckily for us, the evolution of Hey, Chels, who have been pumping out tunes for more than half a decade, falls squarely into the former option. The band’s self-titled 2018 debut was a classic pop punk album – and just for the record, there’s nothing wrong with that. But the next two releases found Hey, Chels stretching its legs a bit and embracing a more colorful vibe.
The band didn’t abandon its roots, as songs like “Pulse Check,” show. Hey, Chels just added some extra tools to its arsenal, evident on earworms like “Disaster,” and “Crumbling.”
Hey, Chels, “Burn”: The band’s latest single, “Burn,” is an infectious and unabashed mixture of indie and pop rock. Unlike Hey, Chels’ other recent single “Playin,” a mid-tempo jam propelled by a grimy bassline and accented by ghostly keyboard notes, “Burn,” is much more compact. It’s dominated by crunchy, driving guitar strums and Jacque Mendez’s magnetic vocals and at a hair longer than two minutes, it’s a delectable little bite of a song. So go ahead, play it again. No one’s judging you.
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