LIVE: Skating Polly @ Sebright Arms, 10.09.18

As a rule, especially now I’m fast approaching mid-thirties-dom, I generally try to avoid Monday night gigs – they tend to set a precedent of low energy and enhanced apathy for the rest of the week. But last Monday, I decided to make an exception for my favourite sibling punk-rock trio, Skating Polly. And I’m extremely glad I did.

Kicking off the two-band line up at Bethnal Green’s Sebright Arms are GIHE faves The Menstrual Cramps. Delivering their topical tongue-in-cheek wit and immense, politically-charged force, they succeed in astounding the crowd. With their refreshingly uncensored, genuine passion, they seem to have refined their seething set even since I last saw them play for us a couple of months back; they’re a band who are now more relevant and necessary than ever before, continuing to refine their musical prowess to blast their message into our ears.

Marking themselves out as favourites when we caught them a couple of years back, putting on an immense live set at The Lock Tavern, Skating Polly‘s Kelli and Peyton have since recruited brother Kurtis on drums, to create an even bigger, high-octane sound. Delivering their trademark combination of honey-sweet melodies with gritty, whirring hooks, 2016’s ‘Pretective Boy’ starts the set. And immediately they draw in the packed out venue with their immense buoyant energy and understated subtle power.

Although I had been blown away seeing Kelli and Peyton as a duo, with the added volume of one extra person, they’re able to blast into the eardrums with a fuller, all-encompassing sound that hits you with a sublime force from the start. And it doesn’t make it any less impressive or immersive either; the two front women continue to swap vocal responsibilities and instruments throughout the set, with Peyton and Kurtis swapping roles for one song too. Skating Polly are a band who continue to keep us on our toes, showcasing their exciting, multi-faceted sound and unique, impassioned stage presence.

Treating us to an eclectic mix of songs new and old, each and every moment of this jam-packed set is full of raw emotion, with this band’s intense snarling energy and ferocious vocal delivery blowing me away throughout. From new tracks such as ‘Free Will At Ease’ (inspired by a “shitty ex boyfriend”) and the seething grunge-fuelled power of ‘Camelot’, to 2016’s ‘Perfume For Now’ (about a guy who accused Kelli of being a creep when she was just 13) and the immense grit of ‘Stop Digging’, each and every offering is an exciting, intoxicating sonic delight.

Fiercely staring into the crowd and shouting “throw your mother-fucking hands up!”, Kelli tops things off by launching into the sweaty (and incredibly smelly!) sea of fans for an epic surf, bass and all. A glorious end to a glorious night of live music. Once again marking themselves out as going against the grain, Skating Polly deliver an empowering sentiment, uniting anyone who doesn’t want to coincide with the confines of society’s limitations.

Definitely worth venturing out on a Monday for; far from apathetic and energy-less, the night leaves me feeling motivated and refreshed, having been in the presence of such formidable women in music.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LIVE: The Joy Formidable – The Lexington, 22.08.18

Almost six years to the day since they last played the venue, The Joy Formidable made a triumphant return to The Lexington to perform to a sold out crowd on Wednesday night. Ritzy, Rhydian and Matt are masters of loud-and-quiet alternative anthems and despite being absent from the London live scene recently, the trio have lost none of their momentum.

Opening their set with the riotous and rarely played ‘Greyhounds In The Slips’, the band tore through the song with impressive precision and energy. ‘I Don’t Want To See You Like This’ followed, before the all-encompassing ‘The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade’ took hold, filling the venue with foot-thumping and chants of appreciation. At the close of the song, guitarist & vocalist Ritzy and bassist Rhydian addressed the “familiar faces” in their crowd, and banter about her “mountain troll” clumsiness – as well as drummer Matt’s intake of walnuts and whisky – drew laughs from their loyal fans.

The trio eased into a stellar rendition of ‘Ostrich’, which unlike the recorded version, hosted a calmer intro, reflecting Ritzy’s words about the song’s theme of “moving on and forgiving” people. With their fourth album AAARTH due for release next month, the band then showcased some of their new material, including latest single ‘The Wrong Side’ which rang out with trademark Joy Formidable intensity.

Hitch track ‘This Ladder Is Ours’ thundered through after, before the band briefly left the stage, returning for a knockout encore. Between the blur of ‘Buoy’ – which was given similar treatment to ‘Ostrich’ – and final track ‘Whirring’ the band took time to remind fans that next year marks the tenth anniversary of the release of their debut EP, A Balloon Called Moaning. Ritzy promised the band would be celebrating the occasion with some intimate acoustic shows, then promptly apologised for not playing the acoustic dates she promised last time she was in town, when the band played Oslo in Hackney.

In one final six minute frenzy of riffs and raucous drumming, the band threw themselves and their instruments around the stage during ‘Whirring’, leaving their crowd fired up with the promise of seeing them in town again soon. The Joy Formidable have been on the musical radar for almost a decade, and last night’s performance proved they’ve got another decade’s worth of raw live power in them.

Support came from the wonderful Bryde – who performed with a full band – who TJF heartily praised.

Pre-order your copy of The Joy Formidable’s AAARTH here.
Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Peach Club – ‘Boy In A Band’

I first became aware of Norwich Riot Grrrls Peach Club seeing them support The Tuts at The George Tavern a couple of years back, and have been pretty much blown away by everything I’ve heard from them since. Now, following the release of their second EP, Cherry Baby, earlier this year, they’ve released a powerfully seething new single.

Delivering an important message with a tongue-in cheek wit, ‘Boy In A Band’ is a gritty, raging attack on those ‘boys in bands’ that we’ve all come across; those disgusting guys who use their self-proclaimed ‘fame’ to take advantage of young women.

With a raw ferocity, thrashing hooks and driving beats, ‘Boy In A Band’ builds with a frenzied energy to a riotous anthem, blasting into the ears with a racing sense of urgency. And rightly so. We need voices like Peach Club’s now more than ever; a voice that gives motivation and inspiration to girls and women to speak out and be heard in order to prevent the damaging actions of certain boys in bands continuing to be swept under the carpet (or even accepted as the norm) within the music industry.

Channelling anger into a wonderful outpouring of raucous energy, and with exceptionally powerful lyrics like “Why don’t we go back to my tour van? Doesn’t matter that you’re a little girl and that I’m a man! / I’ll take advantage, I’ll make you feel small
and then I’ll deny it all…” , ‘Boy In A Band’ is the song we all need to hear this summer.

 

 

And don’t miss Peach Club headlining for our Blogtober event at The Finsbury on 12th October – we can’t wait!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Get In Her Ears Live @ The Finsbury w/ Thunder On The Left, 10.08.18

Following a host of super amazing bands playing for us recently – including LIINES, Witch Fever, The Magnettes, H.Grimace, The Menstrual Cramps and The Empty Page  – we were back at The Finsbury on Friday for another jam-packed night of the best new music.

Immediately blowing us away, recent favourites Scrounge deliver their intense and utterly captivating sounds to kick off the night. As front woman Lucy’s immense vocals rage alongside whirring, scuzzy hooks and Luke’s thrashing beats, they continue to prove themselves to be one of the most exciting bands around.

 

Next up, Leeds’ Nervous Twitch uplift and inspire with their vibrant and energy-fuelled punk-pop offerings. With a colourful wit and sunny sparkle, it’s impossible not to be left feeling a joyous sense of empowerment at their instantly catchy creations.

Penultimate band of the night, Brighton’s ARXX, blast into our ears and dazzle our ears with all the seething, glitter-filled energy you could ever ask for. With the immense of power Hannah’s gritty vocals and raging riffs alongside Clara’s high-octane thrashing beats, their mighty grunge-fuelled offerings take our breath away once again.

Finally, headliners Thunder On The Left deliver a memorable, angst-driven set. Bounding across the stage with a riotous energy, front woman Carla blasts out a torrent of blazing vocals as frenzied hooks race alongside pummelling beats. A perfect outpouring of fiery emotion and refreshing honesty, the trio leave us ready – fists clenched – to take on anything with their infectious, ferocious power.

HUGE thanks to the four incredible bands who played for us on Friday, it was a dream of a night. And we’re already getting excited about next month’s gig on 14th September with Wendy Rae Fowler headlining!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Jon Mo / @jonmophotography

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