Hallpass brings the magic of indie rock to Atlanta

There are moments in music that can only be described as “magical.” It’s the feeling you get when seeing your favorite artist in concert for the first time, hearing lyrics that seem meant for you, or finding a new song that you’ll repeat until you can’t listen anymore. ‘listen. They leave you breathless, amazed and unable to say anything other than “Wow”.

On the evening of June 13, the 200 people gathered at Smith’s Olde Bar witnessed one of these magical moments, ignited by the indie rock band Hallpass.

Hallpass is the latest addition to Athens’ iconic independent music scene, where they have played the historic Georgia Theater alongside big names such as Quarters of Change and flipturn.

The band consists of singer Josh Morris, guitarist Daniel Crowe, bassist Sam Smith and drummer Gideon Johnston. Morris and Crowe are recent graduates of the University (sic) of Georgia and are now studying music full-time with their bandmates.

Hallpass has attracted more than 32,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and they embarked on their first tour this summer, crossing state lines to North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. They co-headlined their Atlanta show with their friend and former bandmate Wim Tapley.

From the second the curtains opened to reveal the band in all their glory, it was clear that Hallpass was ready to rock. Their raw authenticity and energy was a common thread, shocking everyone in the room.

Some bands don’t have the passion to perform live. Hallpass is not one of those bands: they were born to be rockstars. Morris, in particular, behaved as if the stage was his second home, jumping, dancing and vigorously strumming his guitar throughout the set. He was undeniably having the time of his life on stage, and his vigor lit a fire under the room.

They played songs from their recent EP “Oscillate,” released just over a month ago. Tracks like “Torpedo” and “Morning Time” show their influences from the indie rock sphere like flipturn, Briston Maroney and The Backseat Lovers.

Even within the genre from which they draw inspiration, Hallpass’ musical voice stands out from the rest. They are magnificently original and brimming with talent, even at such an early stage in their careers.

The band balanced snappy, rhythmic choruses and distinctive guitar riffs with occasional folk tunes. “Roma” was one of those moments of tranquility and nostalgia, displaying the artistic diversity of the group.

Hallpass brought in their friend Brandon Halter to play tambourine during “Adeline,” and he brought it all on stage, increasing the energy of the room incredibly.

Ironically, the final song of the show was the first the band ever released. “Maine,” their most successful song to date, has racked up over 500,000 streams on Spotify, and it was easily the fan favorite of the night.

The band put all the energy they had left into those final minutes on stage, and the crowd devoured every second of it, dancing and singing the lyrics back to them.

The whole room shouted with one voice: “Where have you gone? I thought you were supposed to stay here. It was a beautiful and truly cathartic moment shared between the band and the audience.

The Hallpass concert in Atlanta was one of those shows where every person left feeling like they had been slapped in the face by the power of music. Even at such an early concert in their career, the band’s fervent stage presence reinforces the fact that they are meant to perform their music for the masses.

The band is a perfect example of the new Gen Z era of indie rock, with wild sonic experimentation and authentic ingenuity that flows from their creativity.

This is just the beginning of the hallpass. Their ability to create magical moments through their unique charisma, phenomenal songwriting and dynamic live performances prove that the band is already well on their way to becoming an independent superstar.