The Stage Door, Southampton | RSTE Promotions Launch Party | 20 June 2026 | ★★★★
There are times when you arrive at a gig with high expectations, quietly hoping the live performance will live up to what you’ve already heard online.
Then there are nights like this.
Red Light Spies were the band I most wanted to see at The Stage Door’s RSTE Promotions Launch Party.
I’d first discovered them after they got in touch through the Get Featured button on the Music Scene Magazine website. Before the event, I spent time listening to their music on Spotify and liked what I heard.
But there’s always one question that hangs over every band you’ve only heard on record…
Will they sound as good live?
The answer came quickly.
Yes.
Absolutely yes.
Before the Music Started
Before the first note was played, I sat down with the band for what turned out to be one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve conducted for Music Scene Magazine.
Rather than simply asking the usual questions, we talked music.
Having already listened to their recordings, I mentioned that I’d picked up something in their sound that reminded me of Fish-era Marillion. Not because they sounded like Marillion, but because there were moments of atmosphere and vocal phrasing that took me back there.
I honestly expected them to tell me I was hearing things.
Instead, the lead singer smiled and explained that Marillion had indeed been a huge influence on him growing up.
One observation confirmed.
Later in the conversation I mentioned a particular lead guitar break that had reminded me of Carlos Santana. Again, not because it was a copy, but because of the melodic phrasing and feel.
The guitarist laughed before revealing that he was Spanish.
Another little piece of the musical puzzle suddenly made perfect sense.
We also spoke about the band’s other influences, including Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner, Inspiral Carpets and other artists from the 1990s and 2000s. What became obvious very quickly was that Red Light Spies have absorbed these influences rather than copied them.
Passing the Spotify Test
One of the biggest compliments I can give any band is this…
Red Light Spies sound every bit as good live as they do on Spotify.
There was no sense of studio trickery being exposed under the lights.
No disappointment.
If anything, the live performance gave the songs even more life.
The band walked on stage sounding confident, tight and completely at ease with one another.
A Voice That Stands Apart
The first thing that grabs your attention is the vocalist.
Throughout the evening I found myself hearing shades of Michael Hutchence. Not because he is trying to imitate the former INXS frontman, but because there are moments in his natural tone, phrasing and swagger that evoke similar qualities.
Having spoken to him beforehand, I genuinely don’t think he is even aware of the comparison.
That makes it all the more authentic.
His range is genuinely impressive. He moves effortlessly from quieter, more atmospheric passages into powerful choruses without ever sounding strained or forced. Every song seemed to reveal another layer of his voice.
Four Musicians, One Sound
One thing became increasingly obvious as the set progressed.
This isn’t a singer with a backing band.
This is four musicians working together.
The guitarist brings colour and atmosphere to every song. There are moments where notes are allowed to ring beautifully before resolving into the next phrase, adding texture rather than simply filling space.
The bassist deserves enormous credit. Time and again it was the basslines that anchored the songs, creating memorable foundations upon which everything else could build.
Behind it all, the drummer was outstanding.
Solid.
Disciplined.
Never overplaying.
Every fill had a purpose.
Sometimes the highest compliment you can pay a drummer is that everything simply feels right, and that was certainly the case here.
Red Light Spies Live Set Highlights
Shouting immediately reinforced why I’d heard echoes of Fish-era Marillion beforehand. Not because it sounds like Marillion, but because it creates atmosphere, light and shade, allowing the music to breathe before building naturally. It was one of the highlights of the evening.
Avalanche demonstrated another side of the band. Here I found myself hearing touches of INXS swagger alongside the drive and confidence of Royal Blood. Once again, these weren’t imitations but influences woven naturally into Red Light Spies’ own identity.
The Crook, a newer song, showcased just how well the band write together. A memorable repeated bassline carried the song while the guitar layered melody and atmosphere above it. The rhythm section held everything together perfectly, allowing the arrangement to unfold without ever feeling cluttered.
Then came Raining On My Back.
Opening with a guitar-led introduction that carried a distinctly progressive rock feel, there were moments where the phrasing reminded me of Dire Straits before the song settled comfortably into Red Light Spies’ own sound. The vocalist was absolutely mustard on this one, demonstrating exactly why he’d impressed me throughout the evening. It proved to be the perfect song to finish the set.
As the closing number built, every member of the band had an opportunity to shine. The guitarist, bassist and drummer all had their moments, reminding everyone watching that Red Light Spies are very much a band in every sense of the word.
Covers Done Properly
The band also treated the audience to tight renditions of Figure It Out by Royal Blood and Molly’s Chambers by Kings of Leon.
What impressed me wasn’t simply how well they played them.
It was that they made sense.
The covers fitted seamlessly alongside the band’s original material, reinforcing the musical territory Red Light Spies occupy rather than interrupting it.
That tells me they understand exactly who they are.
The Bigger Picture
As the evening drew to a close, I realised something.
The influences are all there if you know where to listen.
Arctic Monkeys.
Alex Turner.
Fish-era Marillion.
Royal Blood.
A touch of Dire Straits.
Perhaps even the occasional hint of Santana in the guitar phrasing.
Yet despite all of those reference points, Red Light Spies never sound like anyone else.
They’ve taken those influences, absorbed them over the years and created something distinctly their own.
That’s far harder to achieve than simply copying your heroes.
Final Thoughts
Walking into The Stage Door, Red Light Spies were the band I most wanted to see.
Walking out, they justified every expectation I’d built after listening to them beforehand.
More importantly, they exceeded them.
Authentic.
Confident.
Accomplished.
Excellent musicians.
Great songs.
And perhaps the biggest compliment I can give…
I spent the entire set smiling.
That’s what live music is supposed to do.
After the gig, as everyone was packing away, Miriam came over and kindly handed MSM a small selection of Red Light Spies merchandise, including a plectrum, stickers and a keyring. It was a thoughtful gesture, but our conversation that followed summed the evening up perfectly.
Miriam smiled and asked me,
“So… did you like the band?”
I laughed.
“That’s the wrong question.”
She looked at me slightly puzzled.
“The right question is… would I pay to watch them again?”
I didn’t need to think about the answer.
Yes.
Without hesitation.
For me, that’s the real measure of any live band.
Not whether they can play.
Not whether they can sing.
Not whether they have good songs.
Would I happily spend my own money to go and watch them again?
The answer is an unequivocal…
Yes.
MSM Verdict
Red Light Spies are one of those bands that reward careful listening. Their influences are there if you know where to look, but they never become imitation. They have crafted a sound that is unmistakably their own, backed up by first-class musicianship, thoughtful songwriting and a live performance that not only matches their recordings but, in many ways, surpasses them.
If you’re looking for another band to add to your playlist, don’t.
Go and see them live.
That’s where Red Light Spies truly come alive.