Spotlight On: Passive Fix

Back in March, while waiting in line for Yonaka in Birmingham, a local three-piece band rolled up, promoting their first headline tour happening in April. This was my introduction to Passive Fix, now let me introduce you.

Passive Fix, consisting of Alex McCarthy (Vocals and Saxophone), Sam Stringer (Guitarist), and David Kirkham (Drummer), claims to offer a “blend that makes them stand out from the crowd” through captivating vocal lines, innovative saxophone melodies, aggressive guitars, and resolute rhythmic grooves. It is undeniable that the three-piece band effectively delivers this blend through their discography and live performances.

Following the brief interaction with the band, with ‘business card’ in hand, I quickly opened Spotify and briefly listened to their single ‘lockjaw.’ In this short period, the interesting and addictive track demonstrated the unique blend of Passive Fix – irrespective of the phone’s questionable audio quality. The engaging single explicitly stating – ‘Trans rights are human rights’ alongside the effectively employed use of drums results in the song successfully presenting an important political message which emboldens the importance and relevance of Passive Fix. Therefore, I rashly decided to buy tickets for the group, and after inviting a friend, purchased tickets for their first headline tour.

This sound achieved by Passive Fix can appeal to fans of alternate bands such as Bad Omens and Yonaka

The rock band also released a new single between the introduction and the concert date. This single, titled ‘relentless,’ quickly became my favourite song of the group, due to the strong and impactful bass line and dynamic vocals. The single effectively balances soft and hard elements, creating a stimulating experience through the dichotomy. In this regard, the group aligns musically as an intersection between Nothing but Thieves and Sleep Token, demonstrating their strengths of versatility in which they excel within ranging genres of Indie-Rock and Progressive Metal. This sound achieved by Passive Fix can appeal to fans of alternate bands such as Bad Omens and Yonaka.

On 27 April, at Birmingham Dead Wax, the band performed their headline show. It was within this live environment that the talents, charms, and abilities of Passive Fix are best represented and highlighted. Preceded by some local support acts and the rock band Chasing Mallory, Passive Fix invigorated the audience with intensity and passion throughout their performance.

The appeal of Passive Fix is is ultimately rooted in their authenticity, passion and drive which has led to the creation of unique and high-quality music

The venue, albeit intimate, was met with force and severity by Passive Fix. This passion and zeal were reciprocated by the audience which amplified the quality of the performance. Notably, the interaction between Passive Fix and the audience, such as McCarthy, the lead singer, joining the audience from the stage, and the entire band encouraging involvement throughout their performance, manifested a genuine connection between the two entities, in which blurred lines granted stronger connections and an intensified experience. It was their performance on this stage which solidified and validated their appeal, marking Passive Fix as a staple in my playlists and converting me into a listener.

Succeeding the concert, Passive Fix released two additional singles. In May, ‘lost cause’, a song performed in the concert, was released. This single focuses on denouncing and condemning domestic abuse with lyrics in opposition to abusers such as ‘I can only pray guilt will find a way/ Shame you into submission’. The track ‘lost cause’ involves heavy and strong guitars with harsh vocals to effectively portray this message. They also released ‘why change a habit?’. In continuity with their prior tracks, this single utilises contrasting hard and soft elements with the instrumental and vocals and has become a favourite releases from Passive Fix.

The appeal of Passive Fix is is ultimately rooted in their authenticity, passion, and drive which has led to the creation of unique and high-quality music, which will grow into a formidable discography which will be effectively presented through their live performances.