The Irons; An Unparalleled Indie-Pop Band

Austin based band, The Irons came to play at Paper Tiger this past Thursday, and delivered a show unlike any other. Playing music that can only be described as jazz inspired indie-pop, the band provides in depth lyrics and beautiful melodies. Above all of the technical details in terms of their music, every member of The Irons is able to give the audience a memorable experience, be it on stage or in personal conversations.
Before the show I had the privilege of sitting down with lead man: singer songwriter Hayden Lee Havard to get some further insight into their melodic and lyrical process. Upon first impression, Havard was open, welcoming, and inquisitive, demonstrating a side of him I had never seen before. My first question regarded the band’s most streamed song on Spotify “Goodbye too Soon”. I asked whether or not the song was about a specific person. Havard laughed and said “Yes, it is. Many people misunderstand and believe the song is about a relationship, but it’s about my mom.” He goes on to explain how “Goodbye too Soon” is sort of a letter to people that care about him, his mother specifically, saying that he’s sorry if he does something reckless that kills him. He told me how he had always been an adrenaline junkie, seeking out things that were, most of the time, incredibly dangerous. He even revealed to me a scar on his elbow he got as a teen riding on a skateboard attached to a car going fifty miles an hour. Havard explains that “It’s important for [him] to make time for the people that surround [him] because of the way [he] lives his life”. He deeply cares about the people around him, which is why he takes care of himself.
Next we spoke about his songwriting process. He told me he was inspired heavily by the classic hero’s journey. The Irons currently have three albums out. Their first album “Peter Clear Boy” is named after Havard’s imaginary friend who he says goodbye to in the opening titular song. The album as a whole is about leaving a life behind. It’s based off of his own experience moving from Lufkin to Austin. He said that “Moving away can be really freeing, but at the same time, you are affected in a way you didn’t expect.” Their second album “Taking It All In” covers the trials and tribulations that a hero undergoes during his journey. The main character of the album: Gilbert Green, is attempting to absorb all of the newness and the struggle that accompanies it, which proves to be more difficult than expected. The Irons’ most recent release “He’s About to Blow” describes a character that struggles with suicidal thoughts. A continuation of the two previous records, the character has attempted to escape the struggle he faced, but eventually can’t take the pain anymore and commits suicide. I asked whether or not Havard had mental health concerns that may have contributed to his desire to write this story line. He said “I haven’t personally but I have definitely known people who have struggled with that or succumb to that” he continued with his thoughts on the title: “People don’t commit suicide because of one thing, bad things will compound on one person and it’s like the straw that broke the camel's back”
Watching the band perform is a whole different ball game than listening to their music on Spotify. On streaming platforms, their songs come across as soft and somewhat dainty, with melodies that could sing you to sleep. Their live performances on the other hand, are full of dynamic crowd interaction and somewhat reckless behavior similar to what spawned the idea of “Goodbye too Soon”. Hayden had a tendency to climb in the rafters and jump into his crowds, while the guitarists: Caleb and Robby, had an intense dance battle that culminated in a mosh pit. The crowd was electric, they radiated this appreciation for the music unlike any band I’d seen before. The screams coming from the front row of the audience held so much emotion and grit, similar to the way The Irons play music.
Watching The Irons play is like watching an artist paint. The feeling that goes into Hayden’s voice as he croons over his piano, the way bassist and back up vocalist Will sways with every chord, the zone drummer Nathan gets into when he plays, the dances guitarists Robbie and Caleb do with the audience. These are all representations of the brushstrokes that create the Irons’ painting. The creativity, care, and enthusiasm that goes into their shows is something that must be seen to be believed. It’s astounding.
I intended to leave the show pretty soon after the group came off stage, but there was one thing that kept me there two hours later than I expected to be: The Irons’ gleaming hospitality. After the show I watched each member of the band stay back in the crowd to talk with countless fans and sign autographs. Nathan and Caleb met sisters who were awestruck with their first viewing of an Irons show. A number of them chatted with a longtime fan who reminded them of a comic he had made of the band back in 2019 (which they all remembered). Will even ran the merch table, personally selling shirts and hats with a smile.
I closed out the night by taking a jaunt down to a local taco truck with Hayden, and asked him a couple more questions. I was baffled by the effect they had on the crowd, so I asked Hayden what it felt like to have fans scream his lyrics. “There’s really no way to describe it” he said “It’s not like any other feeling”. I then questioned how he managed to be so moving and energetic on stage when in reality he is a laid back guy, he said that “when [he] first started performing [he] had this intense desire to impress the crowd”, he then told me he has a sort of anxiety towards being boring on stage “it may be because of the expectations my parents held for me, but a fear of boredom is definitely there”. His fear has motivated him and apparently his band mates to deliver one of the most magnetizing shows Paper Tiger has ever seen.
When I left that night I said goodbye to each of the boys and I was met with a hug and kind words from all of them.
The strength The Irons possess both on and off stage to make an audience member feel comfortable is incredible. The music is a delightful and thoughtful twist on indie-pop that is some of the best the genre has seen to date, but the star of the show is each member's shining personality. The appreciation they have for their fans and their wild on stage personas are what make The Irons a truly unique band that you wouldn’t want to miss next time they come to your town.