AWAITING ABIGAIL
Genre: Hard Rock/Metal
Influences: The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm, In This Moment

Biography

Formed in 2024, Awaiting Abigail is a powerhouse hard rock and metal band blending raw emotion, technical prowess, and melodic storytelling. The group began as a reunion of three high school classmates—Heather Hammonds, James Smith, and Laurie Barnett (Larbs)—who played together in the mid-to-late 90s as part of the band Lost Reality.

  • Heather Hammonds went on to drum with several bands, most notably Faded Grace from Dallas, TX.

  • Laurie Barnett (Larbs), rooted in punk-rock, has performed with bands such as Jenny Dick and other notable Dallas punk acts.

  • James Smith, a classically and jazz-trained trumpet player, dedicated 18 years to teaching in public schools.

Joining them is the father-daughter duo, Mike and Kori Tolfa. Kori, a former band student of James, brings her talents on keys, while Mike, a guitarist and aviation enthusiast, rounds out the band’s instrumentation.

The missing piece came in mid-2024 when James discovered Abigail Hill, a gifted vocalist and actress studying theater arts at a local university. Her talent and charisma cemented her as the perfect frontwoman. Abigail’s versatile voice and stage presence quickly made her the melodic force and namesake of the band. Outside the band, Abigail explores solo projects spanning various musical and theatrical genres.

Together, the sextet creates a distinctive sound featuring a two-guitar attack, synthesized soundscapes, and a pounding rhythmic groove. Abigail’s soaring vocals weave seamlessly through colorful textures of unisons, harmonies, and dynamic arrangements.

Members

  • Abigail Hill – Vocals

  • James Smith – Guitar

  • Mike Tolfa – Guitar

  • Kori Tolfa – Keys

  • Laurie Barnett – Bass

  • Heather Hammonds – Drums

Highlights

  • Debut Performance: Trees, Dallas, at the UnSilent Night: Women in Metal Showcase (December 21, 2024)

  • Recent EP Release: A collection of four powerful, passion-driven songs receiving national and international airplay.

Discography

  1. "I HATE YOU"
    A grooving anthem with a heavy 6/4 halftime breakdown, delivering a fiery response to gossip and drama. The outro features a blistering guitar solo and a pounding closing rant.

  2. "FALLING UNDER"
    A dark, post-grunge-metal exploration of a dysfunctional relationship, opening with ethereal, angelic tones that build into heavier depths.

  3. "PEOPLE PLEASER"
    A heartfelt reflection on self-disappointment and the struggle to balance personal desires with others’ needs. Abby’s vocals shine over strategic stop-times and a powerful, heavy bridge that leads to a singable, emotional outro.

  4. "BAD MIND"
    Built on a bold 7/4 groove with a halftime breakdown, this anthem confronts mental illness with catchy lyrics and in-your-face riffs. Lighter verses offer moments of reflection, contrasting the powerful chorus.

Press

"Right off you are slapped in the chops with deep and heavy riffs… they have created heavy, melodic and emotionally-charged modern rock/metal tracks. Leading this sensational sixsome is the flawless and accomplished lead singer Abigail Hill. She has the quintessential soulful yet penetrating rock vocal that caresses the eardrums with pure sonic honey."
— Stan Kelly, The Accidental Music Reviewer UK

"Solid guitar riffs and a really polished sound. Abigail has a great sounding voice, making them a dynamite-packaged band."
— Stephen M. Walters, JUGGERNAUT Promotions, Columbus, OH