Hayds Halloween at The Paramount
Face paint, wolf masks, and the Blues Brothers hit the stage this October at The Hayds’ Halloween show in Los Angeles. We spoke with Josh Muños, lead singer and songwriter for The Hayds, about the Inland Empire (IE) music scene, how the band’s sound has evolved over the years, and their latest release “Under My Skin.”
The Hayds’ sound resonates with the heart of Southern California’s music scene, as they venture in and out of moody, pop, and rock genres in one sweeping setlist. Muños and Dyllan Gonzales (guitarist) met through a theatre class in college and have since grown to a 4-piece band including Bobby Munguia (drums) and Darius Rodriguez (lead guitarist). Tonight, they’re headlining The Paramount for the first time.
The crowd at the Paramount cheered on Chicano Mosh and .com before welcoming The Hayds on with love and anticipation. The setlist was packed with energy including some tracks from before 2022, when The Hayd’s began to lean towards a more cohesive sound beyond the IE punk scene. Muños credits the IE with the start of their platform, but has decidedly worked towards creating a sharper, more unique, sound.
Since starting out with the surfy tunes of their Costa Del Sol album, The Hayds have branched out from their home in Riverside into a richer, more rugged, and soulful sound. Exploring their rock senses has been at the forefront of Muños’ mind in terms of the band’s direction. Pulling inspiration from popular groups such as The Neighborhood and The Arctic Monkey’s 2013 AM album, Muños is ready for The Hayds to amp things up.
Opening for The Buttertones has also been an influence in their process, helping Muños revisit some of their earlier music.
“We're pursuing the sound that we had in 2021 but making it the best possible… it's like, alright, cool… what music do I wish was out in 2021 but just didn't have the resources– didn't have the ideas for,” said Muños.
Their collaboration has also led them to the crowds such as the one at the Paramount. Tonight, the audience is in-costume demanding an encore from every group. “Audiences aren't necessarily fans of [one artist] only, but they're fans of good music. It’s like a party the whole time,” explained Muños when discussing the diverse audiences they’ve played for.
The crowd is leading the party, along for the ride their dynamic setlist ignited. They dance and sing to the ballads and jump to the energetic tracks they know and love. The Paramount becomes an inviting space for the hearts of all, and The Hayds collectively host with their playful yet invigorating nature.
“Under My Skin” will accompany their latest singles (and then some) on The Hayds’ newest album, coming soon. Fans will be keeping an eye out for this exciting sound to see where The Hayds’ journey will take them.
Check out the full photo gallery here.