It’s the first Friday the 13th of the year, and summer is taking on a witchy glow. With the strawberry moon just behind us and a day of superstition at hand, the atmosphere is ready for some occult indulgence. Fitting, then, to have an evening devoted to unapologetically loud women bashing out their self-proclaimed “fairy-doom.”

In celebration of the Hug and Pint’s 10th birthday, the popular venue is more alive than ever. The already cosy concert space climbs to near-kiln temperatures as a sold-out crowd trickles in for a night of genre-blending enchantment. Festivities begin with Glasgow’s own Cwfen, whose dramatic costuming and haunting soundscapes set the tone for an evening of eerie mystique.

As Faetooth take the stage, the room only grows more packed — despite the basement’s clear protest. The heat and the crush of bodies create an electrifying atmosphere, brimming with anticipation. But the band’s set is slow to start, plagued by technical issues that seem to put a curse on their debut. Still, the delay only heightens the tension, with practice growls echoing across the crowd and calls for pits piping up out of every corner. When Faetooth finally begin, the roar of excitement is nearly overwhelming — and somehow, they top it.

The Los Angeles trio mark their first Glasgow show with another debut: a performance of their brand-new single ‘White Noise,’ released today. While it delivers their signature volume and intense vocals, it’s not until they dig into more established material that the band finds its stride.

Faetooth are most notable for their mix of genres — part doom, part shoegaze, part something else entirely. It’s a spell that’s drawn a crowd as varied as their influences, with an audience sporting an unlikely range of styles and subcultures. But while their blend is intoxicating in theory and in recording, something gets lost on the stage. The doomgaze sound seems to fall between worlds — too doom for shoegazers, not heavy enough for metalheads — and the long-awaited pits fade into obscurity as fans never quite reach the excitement they were expecting.

Ultimately, the show, built on so much anticipation and atmosphere, never fully ignites. Faetooth’s ambitious vision, while admirable, doesn’t quite land. Their aesthetic is strong, their vocals fierce, and their presence magnetic — but the performance feels like a spell that falters just before its climax. Perhaps they fell victim to their own ambition, or maybe they were simply hit by the curse of Friday the 13th. Only time will tell if this interesting trio can break the hex and deliver a live show that channels the full power of their music.