LIVE: Le Butcherettes (w/ Big Joanie) – Moth Club, Hackney 02.03.19

Fueled by almighty vocals, hefty guitar riffs and commanding percussion; Le Butcherettes‘ powerful sound ricocheted around the glittered walls of Moth Club last week. Celebrating the release of their fourth album bi/MENTAL, the group delivered a passionate mix of old and new material to their London fans.

Opening the night were DIY garage punks Big Joanie, who were in high spirits having just returned from playing SXSW. The trio’s understated and relatable sounds went down well with the crowd, with ‘Fall Asleep’, ‘Used To Be Friends’ and ‘Down Down’ proving to be the strongest songs in their set.

Cited as their most personal album to date, bi/MENTAL is an ode to Le Butcherettes’ frontwoman Teri Gender Bender’s Mother, and the tracks were as visceral and vulnerable performed live as they are on the record. Teri’s trademark falsetto voice was breath-taking. She flitted between screams, cries and authoritative vocals which matched her erratic but focused performance style. Her band mates – Alejandra Robles Luna (drums), Rikardo Rodríguez-López (guitars) and Marfred Rodríguez-López (bass) – performed with equal amounts of energy; switching between off-kilter sounds and infectious, rolling rhythms with enviable precision.

Teri’s howls and cries cut through the air when she broke the fourth wall and entered the centre of the crowd mid-set and laid on her back. She commanded attention wherever she stood, and spoke fluent Spanish between songs to keep listeners on their toes. As for stand out tracks, it’s difficult to pick just one – but ‘give/UP’ and ‘struggle/STRUGGLE’ stood out among the set list. Both felt like seething, buzzing explorations of grief despite their opposing tempos.

Inspired by the “the death of a living mother”, the duality of life, and the inevitable strife caused by the fluctuation of mental health; Le Butcherettes bi/MENTAL is a cathartic burst of emotive rock designed to clear the cobwebs between your ears – and the band’s live set does exactly that.

Catch Le Butcherettes on their upcoming UK live dates:
Tues 9th July – Boston Music Rooms, London
Weds 10th – Green Door Store, Brighton
Thurs 11th – 2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LIVE (Photos): Cro Cro Land, 06.04.19 (Part 1)

This weekend saw the launch of Croydon’s brand new festival, Cro Cro Land. Organised by Croydon residents Angela Martin and Julia Woollams, the festival aimed to promote gender equality in both its line-up and staff, whilst championing a number of local bands and artists, and working in conjunction with a number of grassroots organisations and charities, including Lives Not Knives.

And what a festival it was! Paying host to SO MANY incredible bands, it was not only a day filled with all the best live music, but also a completely unmatched sense of community spirit and united joy at being part of the DIY scene. As well as all the superb bands playing on the day, we bumped into so many other bands and artists there to support their peers, as well as other key members from the community, such as Caffy from The Zine UK and staff from Croydon’s best pub, The Oval Tavern. It was like a huge family gathering, filled with all the most life-affirming vibes and, of course, the best live music.

Our Jon Mo was there, along with Jamie MacMillan, to capture all the action…

First up we caught the fun-filled, punk-infused energy of Werecats on the Concrete Playground stage.

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

Next, we headed to the main Town Square stage to be blown away by Tiger Mimic’s soaring rock anthems.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

Having ‘spun’ a few tunes ourselves at the Concrete Playground stage, we were treated to the luscious, jangly joy of Jetstream Pony‘s dreamy indie-pop offerings. And, whilst floating away on their twinkling scuzz, we also couldn’t help but notice lead singer Beth’s amazing, Croydon-inspired, skirt (made with material courtesy of local designer Made By Mrs M)!

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

After continuing our DJ set at the Concrete Playground stage, GIHE faves ARXX blast into the packed space, delivering their unique, seething punk anthems with a magnificent sparkling power. And to see new music pioneer John Kennedy in the crowd enjoying the set really warms my heart; to see this band that I’ve followed for the last year or two grow into the incredible force of nature they are today makes me feel a bit like a proud mum – one of the most dedicated (and just all-round incredible) bands I’ve ever come across, they truly do deserve every success.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Back at the Town Square, fellow faves Berries (every band we saw on Saturday was a favourite!) get the crowd moving with their raucous whirring energy and distinctive, smouldering vocals. Oozing a raw passion (and donning band tees of other greats such as LIINES and Estrons), their infectious offerings and buzzing charisma proves this trio worthy of the highest accolades.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

With their unique, vibrant energy and glitchy groove, electro punk duo Feral Five fill the Concrete Playground with their soaring, shimmering offerings as front woman Kat’s glistening outfit and natural pizazz trigger dancing feet and smiling faces.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

As if it wasn’t enough to organise the festival, hero of the day Angela also lead her band Bugeye blazing into our eyes and ears with their incredible colourful power. Delivering their raging, synth-driven anthems with a fierce grit and vibrant energy, they dazzle us all with their contagious disco punk creations.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

If you think all that sounds impressive, stay tuned for part two of our Cro Cro Land review, with more fab photos of the incredible bands who took our breath away on Saturday!

Photo Credit:
Jon Mo/@jonmophoto
Jamie MacMillan/@jamiemacphotos

Words:
Mari Lane/@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: LibraLibra – ‘Loverboy’

Eccentric Brighton-based quartet LibraLibra return to the scene with 90s-based single ‘Loverboy’.

Ever wondered what a 90s “secret admirer board game” would look like in 2019? Look no further, because LibraLibra have got you covered. Glitter, pigtails and bucket-hats take precedent alongside lead-singer Beth Cannon’s original vocals, laden with deep and meaningful lyrics. Of the track, the band explain:

“This song harks back to young me getting drunk at parties, falling madly in love, fucking it up, being labelled a slut, failing hard again and not really knowing what to do with all the feelings…”

On the surface, ‘Loverboy’ is a fun, enthusiastic throwback to the popular ’90s game ‘Dream Phone’ when really, the lyrics hold a more emotional take on struggles with mental health and PTSD. It’s an easy listening pop banger that also relates to a lot of young adults who deal with the same emotions. Who doesn’t love a 90s throwback anyway?

‘Loverboy’ is out now. Catch LibraLibra live at the following dates:

12th April – Brighton Electric, Brighton (FREE ENTRY ‘Prom Night’)
3rd May – Liverpool Sound City Festival

Bekky Smart
@bekkymays

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LIVE: Deep Throat Choir @ Purcell Rooms, Southbank Centre, 02.04.19

Following a breathtaking and truly immersive performance from opening act Mich Cota, Deep Throat Choir take to the stage in the intimate setting of The Purcell Room at The Southbank Centre, and my Tuesday immediately improves by 100%.

Since I first saw Deep Throat Choir here at The Southbank Centre for Women Of The World festival about five years ago, the Luisa Gerstein-lead group have grown in both size and power. What started as a small, acapella singing group accompanied by drums has now developed into a large collective of female-identifying musicians and vocalists, creating an uplifting force of nature in the sound they deliver.

Treating us to a mix of covers and originals – old and new – they start off with a dazzling new number before luscious offerings from their debut album Be OK, including the soaring harmonies of ‘The Wave’ and the exquisite soulful splendour of ‘Hey Mami’. Brightening a wet and windy evening with the matching oranges and pinks of their outfits accompanying the empowering sweeping vocal melodies they create together, they continue to take my breath away with a unique arrangement of one of last year’s innovative collaborations with Simian Mobile Disco.

Filling the intimate venue with their immense vocal majesty, I’m once again reminded that seeing Deep Throat Choir live never fails to inspire and lift the spirits. And, as they close the set with their shimmering rendition of Amy Winehouse’s ‘In My Bed’, I’m left with a euphoric sense of joy; epitomising the exceptional power of women coming together to create, they unite their voices to summon a force that is truly awe-inspiring.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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