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GIHE Gigs Of 2019

It’s that time of year again when we look back at some of our musical highlights. And what a year for live music it’s been – from walking vaginas and Japanese post-punk pantomime, to matriarchal domes and DIY community spirit, we’ve felt pretty lucky to be able to witness some incredible live performances.

Last week, we shared our favourite tracks and albums, and this week we’ll be discussing our all round highlights and Ones To Watch for 2020, but for now, here are our most loved gigs of 2019. Have a read, and a listen to the playlist below!

Björk’s Cornucopia Tour @ The O2, 19.11.19
An opulent, self aware, stunning two hour performance: Icelandic icon Björk was able to “weave a matriarchal dome” over the heads of her transfixed crowd during her Cornucopia live show at London’s O2 Arena. The music pioneer brought her Utopian vision to life through pitch perfect vocals, beautifully orchestrated collaborative sounds, and breath-taking visuals. This was my first time seeing her, and it certainly won’t be my last.
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor/Co-Founder)

Peaches @ Royal Festival Hall, 28.08.19
Wednesday, 28th September 2019: another day of exceptionally soul-destroying news about the state that the country/the world was in; a day when I particularly needed a lift, something to restore my faith in humanity. So, witnessing the sex positive queer feminism of the legendary Peaches couldn’t have come at a better time. Complete with an all womxn band, a fleet of living vaginas, huge inflatable penises, a virtual Iggy Pop and an aerial gymnast shooting lasers out of her behind, it was the most innovative and inclusive of performances. An incredible spectacle that helped restore my faith in humanity, it was just the perfect celebration of everything queer, wonderful, weird and totally life-affirming.
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor/Co-Founder)

Otoboke Beaver/ Say Sue Me/ Drinking Boys And Girls Choir @ Brudenell Social Club, 03.05.19
A skate-punk trio from Daegu. A four piece indie surf outfit from Busan. And the headliners, the self-described “Japanese girls knock out or pound cake band”, named after an Osaka love hotel. In a converted working men’s club in the outskirts of Leeds. This showcase of two Korean and one Japanese band on the Damnably label was part of a tour undertaken by the three during Otoboke Beaver‘s ‘Golden Week’ – their time off from work when they get to do live dates outside of Japan. When I realised that they were touring the UK, I made plans to go and see them at the Brudenell, as part of a long-held desire to go to a gig there. Perhaps the most amazing element was that these three bands of quite different guitar genres – two of whom I had never heard of before – completely carried a warm, appreciative English audience all the way with them. Say Sue Me, in particular, showed the poise and indie-pop nous of many of my favourite acts – and crucially had all the best merch. But it was Otoboke Beaver who nearly blew the roof off with their blistering post-punk pantomime that culminated in a ‘secret’ fourth encore, largely performed in the middle of the audience. Unimpeachable, irrepressible, joyful and exhilarating: they’re the best band in the world and to see them live was something I won’t ever forget.
(John McGovern – Contributor)

Cro Cro Land, 06.04.19
Although it seems it now, 2019 wasn’t all bad… One of its highlights was the launch of Croydon’s brand new festival Cro Cro Land. Particularly exciting for me, as a Croydon resident. Organised by friends of GIHE 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. A day filled not only with all the best live music, but also a completely unmatched sense of community spirit, it was so much more than just a festival, it was like a huge family gathering, filled with all the most life-affirming vibes. Highlights included: the soaring rock anthems of Tiger Mimic, Jetstream Pony‘s dreamy indie-pop, ARXX‘s seething punk, Berries‘ raucous whirring energy, Feral Five‘s unique electro punk, Bugeye‘s colourful power, the politically driven power of She Drew The Gun, Bang Bang Romeo‘s incredible compelling charisma, Fightmilk‘s dreamily catchy offerings, the immense force of Nova Twins, Chorusgirl‘s sparkling garage-pop, the riotous frenzied energy of The Lovely Eggs, Blood Red Shoes‘ set full of electrifying offerings new and old, and many more amazing bands I’ve failed to mention!
(ML)

Lingua Ignota @ Oslo, Hackney, 30.11.19
Lingua Ignota‘s (aka Kristin Hayter) sold out show at Hackney’s Oslo was catharsis incarnate. The industrial/metal multi-instrumentalist’s hair-raising vocal range and dramatic performance style held her crowd in captivated silence, as she used her pitch perfect voice to sing songs about vengeance and violence. Like an Anglerfish that dwells in dark waters attracting its prey with a dazzling light, Hayter used her portable spotlight to lure and illuminate her audience each time she broke the fourth wall. A survivor of abuse and of industry misogyny (read her excellent interview with The Guardian here), Hayter has defiantly risen from these ashes in Phoenix-like fashion. Her interrogative spotlight is not easy to escape, and her powerful voice is impossible to ignore.
(KC)

John Kennedy’s X-POSURE Summer Party, 17.08.19
Celebrating twenty years of his X-POSURE radio show, John Kennedy hosted the best of parties this summer. A real, genuine pioneer of new music, and tireless promoter of upcoming bands and artists, we’re massive fans of all John does, here at GIHE, and the day did not disappoint. Held at Flat Iron Square, with an outdoor stage as well as events held in Apres and Omeara, John made sure that there were no band clashes throughout the day – a genius idea! Kicking off with the soothing tones of Brooke Bentham, personal highlights on the outdoor stage included the unmatched buoyant energy of Calva Louise and the dreamy, soulful sounds of Babeheaven whilst inside in Omeara, I was completely blown away by the seething rock anthems of Liverpool’s The Mysterines. It was also wonderful to catch Marika Hackman live in conversation with John, discussing her latest album I’m Not Your Man. A perfect celebration of new music, thank you John!
(ML)

Nik Void (supporting Gum Takes Tooth) @ Electrowerkz, 25.01.19
Nik Void gave a master class in how to perform electronic music solo at Electrowerkz when she supported duo Gum Takes Tooth at their album launch. Positioned behind a desk overflowing with wires and synths, Void skilfully tuned and triggered her equipment, creating intense waves of experimental electronic noise. I wasn’t aware of Void’s history (she’s one half of Factory Floor, and one third of Carter Tutti Void) – but even without an understanding of her previous work, her solo set was a truly remarkable experience.
(KC)

GIHE Live @ Notting Hill Arts Club
Cheating and gloating a bit here, but all of the GIHE gigs I’ve organised at Notting Hill Arts Club this year have been favourites (as have Mari’s monthly gigs at The Finsbury). I try to co-ordinate line-ups that feature some form of electronic music, and I think I nailed that with our final show of the year. ESYA (Ayse Hassan of Savages/Kite Base/180 db), Scrounge and Eilis Frawley played for us, and they were all sensational. It goes without saying that I couldn’t have pulled any of this off without the help of Mari, Tash, Paul & Jon. All have been incredibly helpful with booking suggestions, photographs, and acting as door staff on the nights.
(KC)

GIHE Live @ The Finsbury
Having now been running our live nights at The Finsbury for over three years, putting these gigs on remains my most favourite thing to do. Bringing like-minded people together to enjoy music, offering bands the opportunity to share their incredible art in a safe space, just fills me with joy and pride each month. All twelve of our gigs this year have been exceptional, and I’ve loved every single band we’ve hosted; from the raging electro-punk of Clt Drp, to the dreamy indie-pop of faves such as Mammoth Penguins and Chorusgirl, they’ve all been wonderful in different ways, and I’m super grateful to everyone who’s been a part of it. A stand out moment for me, though, would have to be our International Women’s Day celebration on 8th March, headlined by the ferocious, sparkling force of Brighton duo ARXX, with support from the fun-filled-empowering energy of The Baby Seals, the fierce post-punk of Scrounge and the twinkling electronic soundscapes of Rainbow Corps. We also invited The Outside Project – a charity dedicated to helping the homeless LGBTQ+ community – along to raise money for their project. It was a joyful, empowering night filled with the best vibes to celebrate all womxn.
(ML)

We’ve updated our Best Of 2019 playlist with some songs from the bands and artists we’ve loved live. Have a listen now!

Mari Lane / @marimindles
Kate Crudgington / @kcbobcut
John McGovern / @etinsuburbiaego

December 16, 2019December 16, 2019

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Get In Her Ears Live @ The Finsbury w/ Screaming Toenail, 13.12.19

On what was a pretty devastating and terrifying day for most of us, on Friday 13th December – the day it was announced that we have to live under a Tory government for another five years – many of us ventured out, despite feeling emotionally drained by it all, for a night of live music. And what a special night it was; like-minded people coming together to share music, rage and love at a time when we need it the most.

Kicking things off, Foxcunt deliver their immense punk spirit and catchy tunes. Rallying against the patriarchy, ACAB and the home office, their energy-fuelled anti-establishment anthems are just what we need right now.

Next up, Manchester’s Dollie Demi lift our spirits with their sassy, vibrant spirit. As front woman Demi wows us all with her sparkling confidence, incredible classic-rock inspired riffs and driving beats are delivered with a swirling, fun-filled energy.

Third band of the night, Brighton’s LibraLibra, completely blow me away. Delivering their immense dance-punk creations, it’s utterly impossible not to become completely captivated by front woman Beth’s incredible dazzling magnetism as the full-force of her impassioned vocals blasts out alongside tribal beats and whirring hooks. A colossal cacophony that empowers and enlivens.

Headliners Screaming Toenail bring the night to a poignant end. Despite letting us know that they’re feeling emotionally drained by the awful revelations of the day, front person Jacob leads the band in uniting us in love and rage with their resonant, cathartic creations. Whether we’re being encouraged to scream ‘No’ in the face of any racism/homophobia/ableism we encounter, share names of powerful women we love, or simply acknowledge how cute we all are, Screaming Toenail ooze a a frenzied, raw emotion and vibrant spirit. And, with powerful – and all too resounding – offerings such as ‘Swarm’ and ‘Sever’, they soothe some of the day’s pain, filling the venue with a comforting sense of unity, as like-minded people come together to dance and sing in solidarity against the forces seeking to crush our spirit.

Massive thanks and love to the four incredible bands who powered through devastating times to come and play for us on Friday, and made it such a special night. We’ll be back at The Finsbury on 10th January 2020, with headliners Personal Best.

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

December 16, 2019December 16, 2019

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GIHE: Albums Of 2019

It’s that time of year again when we look back at some of our musical highlights, and what a year for new music it’s been! From empowering guitar anthems, gritty electro beats to dreamy indie-pop – our ears have been pretty lucky! Earlier this week, we shared our favourite tracks and now we’re sharing our most loved albums of 2019. Read our choices below, and a listen to our mega playlist at the end of this post!

Little Simz – Grey Area
Probably my most listened to album of the year, Little Simz’s Grey Area is such a poignant, empowering collection from the London artist. A necessary and stirring listen, with powerful feminist anthems such as ‘Boss’ and ‘Offence’, as well as more reflective tracks such as ‘Therapy’, it’s just been the perfect soundtrack to 2019’s anxieties and injustices. Grey Area makes me feel like there’s hope, like there’s power in being a woman. Listening to it, I’ve been known to strut down the street, headphones in my ears, fists clenched and feel momentarily inspired and indestructible – “I’m a boss in a fucking dress”.
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor/Co-Founder)

Le Butcherettes – bi/MENTAL
A vivid exploration of maternal relationships and enduring grief, Le Butcherettes‘ fourth album bi/MENTAL is a potent infusion of almighty vocals, hefty guitar riffs, and commanding percussion. Released via Rise Records, bi/MENTAL is an ode to front woman Teri Gender Bender’s mother, and I had the privilege of speaking to her about this, and many other things when I interviewed her earlier this year. ‘give/UP’ is my favourite track on the record, and it gave me goose bumps when I heard it live at Moth Club earlier this year.
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor/Co-Founder)

Suggested Friends – Turtle Taxi
Any follower of Get In Her Ears will be aware of my love of Suggested Friends; and, having been completely addicted to their eponymous debut release over the last couple of years, and having being utterly charmed by them at numerous gigs in that time, I was extremely pleased to welcome the birth of Turtle Taxi this year. Filled with the band’s totally dreamy harmonies, the album addresses themes ranging from love and trust, to politics and the end of the world, with each track oozing the band’s infectious jangly scuzz. Faith Taylor’s distinctive crystalline vocals are honestly some of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard, and the band’s luscious twinkling melodies and stirring raw emotion never fail to break my heart a little, in the best of ways. (ML)

Kim Gordon – No Home Record
With her inimitable vocals and uncompromising style, Kim Gordon‘s first solo album, No Home Record, is a multi-textured offering that snarls, bites and sedates in equal measure. Released via Matador Records, it’s an intriguing, heavy, eclectic gem that fascinates me more each time I listen to it. I was lucky enough to get a signed copy from Kim Gordon at Rough Trade too. #FanGirl (KC)

Bat For Lashes – Lost Girls
As we nauseously hurl towards not just the end of the year but the decade, it’s fitting that Bat for Lashes delivered my record of the year. Lost Girls is nostalgic, brimful of anthemic and anachronistic loneliness of millennial life. We saw a huge ’80s renaissance in 2019; from films — IT, Wonder Woman — to TV — Stranger Things, American Horror Story, and to me, Lost Girls is the musical response. Whatever it is about the ’80s that takes those of us over 30 back, I don’t know. But it’s ever present. And this record captures that strange sense of longing.

Listening makes me long for a time when technology wasn’t up to par and not all homes had a computer. It makes me yearn to rent video epics like The Lost Boys and Flight of the Navigator and Gremlins. Like I could just drop everything to knock on a friend’s door to see if they want to come outside to play in the hazy sun of an endless summer. Ironically, it makes me think about not thinking. About being free and having hope or no need to search for it. Before anyone fell in love or, if lucky, lost anybody or anything. For 38 minutes, Lost Girls makes me remember what’s gone. Em Burfitt (Contributor)

ZAMILSKA – Uncovered
A ruthless, beguiling take on the forces that influence and overwhelm us, Polish Producer ZAMILSKA‘s Uncovered is a densely hypnotic record permeated by the artist’s fascination with levitation. The result is thirteen richly textured tracks that seethe with “the anxiety of what we want vs what we get”. ‘Hollow’ is my favourite track, and I’m hoping I get the chance to hear ZAMILSKA’s music live in 2020. (KC)

Trash Kit – Horizon
Trash Kit have been faves of mine for a while now; another band to have brought their joyous energy to us at The Finsbury, their 2014 album Confidence was all kinds of wonderful and this year’s Horizon is no different. Filled with an eclectic array of musical influences, including Rachel Aggs’ love of guitar music from Zimbabwe, each track on the album oozes the band’s trademark shimmering effervescent joy and swirling sparkling energy whilst interweaving twinkling hooks, tribal jangly beats and funk-fused bass lines. With its sunny, euphoric vibes, it offers the perfect remedy to all 2019’s despair. (ML)

Aldous Harding – Designer
Aldous Harding’s third album is the Kiwi goth folk artist’s pop LP. Sure, the videos may be unsettling and uncanny, the songs may have titles like ‘The Barrel’, ‘Heaven is Empty’ and ‘Damn’, but check out the folk lilt of ‘Fixture Picture’ and ‘Zoo Eyes’. Having been following her for quite some time, it felt, initially, a little unnerving to see her move away from the more sombre and abrasive territory of 2017’s self-titled debut Party. But watching her at a sold-out Brudenell Social Club, in front of a rapt audience, made me realise the majesty of these songs and their own soft power. On stage, Harding was her typical idiosyncratic self, and that perhaps is the key to her albums. She does what she wants. Who knows what she’ll do next? John McGovern (Contributor)

Witching Waves – Persistence
One of the most exciting bands I’ve come across in the last couple of years, Witching Waves have been wowing me with the immense frenetic energy of their live shows on more than one occasion. And, on seeing them support Suggested Friends (see other favourite album choice) at The Shacklewell Arms a couple of months back, I decided to pick up the shiny yellow vinyl of Persistence. Propelled by propulsive racing beats, their energy-fuelled post-punk oozes a visceral power, with tracks such as ‘Disintegration’ and ‘Best Of Me’ showcasing perfectly in-sync musical layers, as Estella’s driving bass and Mark’s metallic melodies accompany Emma’s frenzied rhythms and raw impassioned vocals. I can’t wait to hear what the trio have in store for us in 2020. (ML)

Black Belt Eagle Scout – At The Party With My Brown Friends
This year, Katherine Paul debuted an overwhelmingly captivating and forward-facing second record under her project name Black Belt Eagle Scout. With lush indie-rock/alternative tones met with echoing vocals and non traditional percussion, Katherine speaks from her crucial voice as a radical indigenous queer feminist. At The Party With My Brown Friends is a profound look into friendship, desire and longing through a lens that has lived through hardship on a cultural scale. Aligned with the pain of the people Katherine represents, Black Belt Eagle Scout exposes a necessary reality. A sonic melancholic marriage between the celebration of life’s lightest moments and an ongoing heavy and fighting heart. In a political climate where indigenous voices continue to fight to be heard, At The Party With My Brown Friends hosts an imperative statement. Make room for the mighty and influential voice of Katherine Paul. Jillian Goyeau (Contributor)

FKA Twigs – Magdalene
FKA Twigs seems to re-emerge whenever my heart’s taken a bit of a beating and I’m always so relieved when she does. Magdalene is inspired by heartache and the figure of Mary Magdalene, an unlikely heroine who Twigs uses to explore the strengths and weaknesses of her femininity. Both the master and the muse, she is re-inventing what it means to be a performer, an artist and a woman in the music industry. Her accompanying Magdalene Tour was a breath-taking spectacle and I can’t imagine a time when I won’t be enthralled by her.
(KC)

We’ve updated our Tracks Of 2019 playlist with some songs from our favourite albums of the year. Have a listen now!

Mari Lane / @marimindles
Kate Crudgington / @kcbobcut
Em Burfitt / @fenderqueer
John McGovern / @etinsuburbiaego
Jillian Goyeau / @jillybxxn

December 13, 2019December 12, 2020

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Get In Her Ears Tracks Of 2019 (12.12.19)

Kate was back in the studio this week for the final Get In Her Ears radio show of 2019!

The GIHE grrrls chose some of their favourite new music from the last 12 months, including tracks from Grizzly Coast, Amahla, CLT DRP, ILL, Scrounge, BEA1991 & Le Butcherettes.

See you in 2020 for more new music goodness!

Listen back here:

@getinherears
@KCBobCut

Tracklist
Poly Styrene – Black Christmas
Grizzly Coast – High Functioning
The Big Moon – Carol Of The Bells (Christmas cover)
ILL – Kick Him Out The Disco
Clt Drp – Speak To My
Pallas Athene – Through Hell
Amahla – Dorothy’s Verses
Catbear – Unrequited Love
Noga Erez – Off The Radar
Le Butcherettes – Give Up
Scrounge – Badoom
PVA – Divine Intervention
FKA Twigs – Cellophane
God Colony (feat. Samirah Raheem) – Girls
Despicable Zee – Counting Cars
Sui Zhen – Perfect Place
Medejin – World’s Fair
BEA1991 – Loser Wins
Alex Jayne – Messy
The Joy Formidable – My Beerdrunk Soul Is Sadder Than A Hundred Dead Christmas Trees
ZAMILSKA – Hollow
Big Joanie – New Year
Kim Gordon – Air B&B
Sonic Youth – Youth Against Fascism

December 13, 2019December 13, 2019

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