Green Door Store hosted a ‘Killer’ local lineup last Friday 4 July, as Fred Bennett, Quaking Aspens and headliners Miler marked the release of Miler’s debut single with a night of indie folk, shoegaze and soaring, dreamy indie rock.

Pardon the pun and give Miler’s debut single a spin.

Fred Bennett

Opening the night at Green Door Store, Fred Bennett brought his indie folk heart to the stage, joined by a solid support band. His sound lives somewhere between classic singer-songwriter intimacy and the richness of a full-band setup, with sweet harmonies and thoughtful arrangements giving the songs added depth.

Across the set, his songwriting leaned into emotion without feeling overwrought. By the third track, the set swelled from intimate reflections into something altogether more anthemic. A slow build gave way a soaring chorus and a delicately picked guitar outro that hushed the room. While the genre might be familiar, Fred’s delivery felt personal and lived-in, setting a warm tone for the night.

Quaking Aspens

Quaking Aspens took the stage next, adding a full rhythm section to their core duo and delivering a gorgeously hazy set of shoegaze-inflected alt rock. Their sound was a slow-burning mist: electric guitars tangled in heavy effects, woozy vocals buried in swirling echo and drums that kept everything anchored in place.

Their shared lead vocals and beautiful harmonies were wintry and melancholic, lyrics oftentimes indiscernible but owing to the genre. They built a sustained, calm atmosphere across their set, weaving together threads of alt rock, folk and shoegaze. The Brighton-based duo would really suit supporting Glasgow-based duo Cloth, who we caught on the same stage a few years earlier. Now that would be an ethereal, minimalist rock gig of dreams.

Miler

Headlining the night, Brighton’s Miler delivered a set that felt polished and personal. Fronted by vocalist-guitarist Calista Morgan, the five-piece have spent the past decade refining their blend of indie rock, dream pop and confessional songwriting. 

They opened with the swirling indie of ‘Dear, sweet’, followed by the gothic-laced ‘Blister Pack’ and the delicately unfolding ‘Your Best’, hitting their stride mid-set. Standouts like ‘Sauchi’ showcased Calista’s soaring, tender vocals over shifting tempos and dynamic arrangements, while ‘Pony’ built from fragile fingerpicking into a driving, full-band release.

By ‘Think of Me’, the full range of their sound was on display. Angelic vocals shifted to command, guitars gave way to galloping rhythms and brooding, thumping drum beats created a darker atmosphere. Across the set, one guitarist switched between EBow and brass slide, adding shifting textures from airy, string-like swells to smooth bluesy tones. A brief technical hiccup by way of a dropped bass signal actually just served as a reminder of how crucial their melodic bass lines are in shaping the band’s sound.

They closed with ‘Killer’, their debut single released that very day. A dreamy, country-tinged slow-burner that seems to circle around the discomfort of some undefined ill; an ambiguous “it” that invites us to project our own meanings or losses or anxieties. From there, they moved into the encore, ‘Betty’, where whispered vocals and swelling guitars built into a rolling, War on Drugs-esque crescendo.

Throughout, the chemistry between Calista and bassist Mikey was lovely. She sang with poise and vulnerability, while he filled the gaps with warm chatter and an emotional nod to making music together for more than ten years.

FKA Harper, the band have re-emerged as Miler and the set marked a confident new chapter. Contemplative and considered, balancing craft and emotion.