LIVE: Bad Waitress @ Moth Club, 09.05.2022

I’ve been wanting to see Toronto band Bad Waitress live ever since first falling in love with the riotous power of last year’s single ‘Strawberry Milkshake’, followed by weeks of listening to epic debut album No Taste on repeat. So, it was with much excitement that I was able to catch Kali, Moon, Katelyn and Nicole opening for Brooklyn band Gustaf at Hackney’s Moth Club on Monday.

Kicking off the rather sweaty night, Bad Waitress immediately blast into the seething discordant splendour of ‘Rabbit Hole’ with an immense, gritty energy – no introduction needed. As frenzied, relentless riffs ricochet off the sparkling interior, I become instantly utterly immersed in their scuzzy, angst-driven power. As a ferocious energy propels ‘Lacerate’, Kali’s raw, impassioned vocals ring out with a fierce emotion, reminiscent of the legendary Brody Dalle. 

Continuing the set with racing, chaotic vigour, the band treat us to more hell-raisingly raucous – yet fuzzily catchy – offerings, such as wonderfully sinister punk anthem ‘Strawberry Milkshake’ and the eerily seductive allure of ‘Manners’. 

As Kali leads the band with an immense, raging drive, the rest of Bad Waitress captivate the crowd; whether it’s the quirky charisma of guitarist Katelyn as they deliver the most impressive of riffs, Moon pummelling the kit with an infectious shimmering energy, or the ethereal charm of bassist Nicole.

Nearing the end of the set, Bad Waitress treat us to one of their earliest singles ‘That Sedative’, before showcasing their versatility with the sweeping, sultry ferocity of ‘Delusions of Grandeur’ and fierce latest single ‘Spit It Out’.

After a year of being desperate to see this Toronto band live, they do not disappoint. I remain utterly spellbound by their seething, empowering cacophonies throughout. A truly epic experience.

(Kills Birds – with their colossal grunge-fuelled fuzz and immersive stage presence – were also incredible!)

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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GUIDE & PLAYLIST: The Great Escape Festival 2022

We’re excited to be heading back to The Great Escape Festival in just 3 days time (12th-14th May) to tread Brighton’s pebbled beach and trek around the city trying to catch some of the best new female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ music talent.

GIHE favourites ARXX, Brimheim, Fräulein, Bad Waitress, Mykki Blanco and Ailbhe Reddy will all be singing by the seaside over the long weekend, but we’re excited to discover some brand new artists too. Below is a list of set times of the acts we’re keen to catch at the festival. You can get better acquainted with them by listening to our accompanying Spotify Playlist!

Get your tickets for The Great Escape here.

Don’t forget to check out the line-up for the Alternative Escape too!

 

Thursday 12th May

Fräulein
Playing at: Queens Hotel – 12:15pm-12:45pm

Bad Waitress
Playing at: TGE Beach Stage – 12:30-1:00pm

Grandmas House
Playing at: The MVT Stage – 12:30pm-1:00pm

HIGH SCHOOL
Playing at: Komedia Basement – 12:40-1:00pm

Tolu Makay
Playing at:
Prince Albert – 1:00-1:30pm
Brighthelm – 7:30-8:00pm

EFÉ
Playing at: Prince Albert – 2:00-2:30pm

flowerkid
Playing at: 2:00-2:25pm

Brimheim
Playing at: Waterbear 2:15pm-2:45pm

Kills Birds
Playing at:
TGE Beach Stage – 2:30pm-3:00pm
Horatios – 9:15-9:45pm

Ailbhe Reddy
Playing at: Revenge – 3:20-3:40pm

ARXX
Playing at:
The Hope & Ruin – 3:30-3:50pm
Brighton Youth Centre – 5:10pm

Mykki Blanco
Playing at: The Old Market – 5:15-5:45pm

Bleach Lab
Playing at: Latest Music Bar – 7:15-7:45pm

Spill Tab
Playing at: The Arch – 7:30-8:00pm

Kynsy
Playing at: The Hope & Ruin – 8:00-8:30pm

CASSYETTE
Playing at: Chalk – 8:15-:8:45pm

HUSSY
Playing at: Green Door Store – 8:15-8:45pm

MUNA
Playing at: Amazon New Music Stage – 8:15-8:45pm

Softcult
Playing at: Volks – 9:00-9:30pm

Billy Nomates
Playing at: Komedia Basement – 9:15-9:45pm

Goat Girl
Playing at: Amazon New Music Stage – 10:15-10:45pm

Let’s Eat Grandma
Playing at: The Old Market – 10:15-10:45pm

Lunar Vacation
Playing at: Green Door Store – 10:15-10:45pm

November Ultra
Playing at: One Church – 10:30-11:00pm

 

Friday 13th May

ZAND
Playing at: Revenge – 12:15-12:45pm

SPRINTS
Playing at: Prince Albert – 1:00-1:30pm

Bleach Lab
Playing at: Komedia Basement – 1:15-1:45pm

Gemini Aaliyah
Playing at: Latest Music Bar – 1:15-1:45pm

PEANESS
Playing at: Zahara – 1:15-1:45pm

ALEWYA
Playing at: TGE Beach Stage – 1:20-1:40pm

AMARIA BB
Playing at: Patterns downstairs – 1:30-2:00pm

CMAT
Playing at:
Prince Albert – 2:00-2:30pm
Komedia Basement – 10:15-10:45pm

Fräulein
Playing at: Zahara – 2:15-2:45pm

LIBRALIBRA
Playing at: The MVT Stage – 2:15-2:45pm

Panic Shack
Playing at: Brighthelm – 2:30-3:00pm

Kynsy
Playing at: Prince Albert – 3:00-3:30pm

tora-i
Playing at: TGE Beach Stage – 3:20-3:40pm

Bad Waitress
Playing at:
Green Door Store – 4:00-4:30pm
The Hope and Ruin – 11:00-11:30pm

Rachel Chinouriri
Playing at: Amazon New Music Stage – 6:15-6:45pm

Connie Constance
Playing at: Casablanca – 6:30-7:00pm

Projector
Playing at: The Tempest Inn – 7:00-7:30pm

Witch Fever
Playing at: Volks – 7:00-7:30pm

GROVE
Playing at: Coalition – 7:15-7:45pm

HIGH SCHOOL
Playing at: Horatios – 7:15-7:45pm

Priya Ragu
Playing at: Amazon New Music Stage – 7:15-7:45pm

Stella Donnelly
Playing at: Chalk – 7:15-7:45pm

CIEL
Playing at: Paganini Ballroom (The Old Ship) – 7:30-8:00pm

A.A. Williams
Playing at: The Old Market – 8:00-8:30pm

flowerkid
Playing at: Zahara – 8:00-8:30pm

LIDO PIMIENTA
Playing at: Jubilee Square – 8:15-8:45pm

APRIL
Playing at: Patterns Upstairs – 9:00-9:30pm

EFÉ
Playing at: Komedia Studio – 9:15-9:45pm

ENNY
Playing at: Brighton Dome Concert Hall – 9:15-9:45pm

Panic Shack
Playing at: Three Wise Cats (Casablanca) – 9:15-9:45pm

Prima Queen
Playing at: Horatios – 9:15-9:45pm

ARXX
Playing at: The Mucky Duck – 9:45pm

Let’s Eat Grandma
Playing at: Amazon New Music Stage – 10:15-11:00pm

Lime Garden
Playing at: TGE Beach Stage – 10:15-11:00pm

Wallice
Playing at: Horatios – 10:15-10:45pm

Momma
Playing at: Horatios – 11:15-11:45pm

Nuha Ruby Ra
Playing at: Komedia Studio – 12:15-12:45am

Porij
Playing at: Komedia Basement – 12:30-1:00am

 

Saturday 14th May

Maria Uzor
Playing at: Revenge – 12:10-12:40pm

Dream Nails
Playing at: Three Wise Cats (Casablancas) – 12:15-12:45pm

HAWXX
Playing at: Volks – 1:00-1:30pm

C’est Karma
Playing at: Prince Albert – 1:15-1:45pm

Fräulein
Playing at: Volks – 2:00-2:30pm

Softcult
Playing at: Green Door Store – 2:30-3:00pm

WOOM
Playing at: One Church – 3:00-4:00pm

Gemini Aaliyah
Playing at: Zahara – 3:30-4:00pm

Stella Donnelly
Playing at: 3:35-4:00pm

Jessica Winter
Playing at: The Arch – 6:15-6:45pm

CASSYETTE
Playing at: Concorde 2 – 6:30-7:00pm

Kay Young
Playing at: The Arch – 7:15-7:45pm

Sinead O’Brien
Playing at: Coalition – 7:15-7:45pm

Gen and the Degenerates
Playing at: The Hope and Ruin – 9:00-9:30pm

SPRINTS
Playing at: Prince Albert – 9:00-9:30pm

Coach Party
Playing at: Coalition – 9:15-9:45pm

LIDO PIMIENTA
Playing at: One Church – 9:15-9:45pm

Rachel Chinouriri
Playing at: Patterns downstairs – 9:30-10:00pm

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Berries – ‘Wall Of Noise’

Following last year’s raucous extended play, Live Sessions from Big Smith Studios, Berries have further embraced their influences – pulling from the indie pop melodies of Wolf Alice, the scuzzy distortion of The Breeders, and the raw punk rock power of Sleater-Kinney – releasing the anthemic ‘Wall of Noise‘; a frenetic track that thematically explores the unwanted static that so many of us find interfering with our own thoughts.

These feelings of insecurity and isolation are tackled by the London-based trio – Holly Carter on guitar/lead vocals, Lauren Cooper on bass/backing vocals, and Lucie Hartmann on drums/backing vocals – with lyrical angst and meticulous, yet raw instrumentation; an honest introspection into mental health with propulsive basslines, angular guitar riffs, infectious drum grooves, and a vocal twang. “The wall of noise / Threatens to leak all the things we don’t see / Distorted voice / Blink and it’s gone but for now it lives on.”

In the music video, the band are confronted with repetition – an endless amount of stairs – representing common obstacles that Holly, Lauren, and Lucie approach differently each time, by either “running straight at them, cautiously, following others, courageously or alone”.

Berries promise that their forthcoming debut LP will explore mental health extensively, based on personal experience. If the record is anything like ‘Wall of Noise’, we can expect a confident combination of riff-driven melodies, layered noise-rock and a “fuck you” punk rock attitude.


Recorded and mixed at Big Smith Studio, the debut album from Berries is set to be released this Summer through Xtra Mile Recordings.

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

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Get In Her Ears Live at The Shacklewell Arms w/ The Menstrual Cramps, 06.05.2022

On Friday, we were back at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston with the most epic of line-ups. The Menstrual Cramps, pink suits and Queen Cult treated us to an immense few hours of live music. Huge thanks to them all, and to all the lovely folk who came out to support them and fill the venue… We’re still feeling all the feels, and are extremely grateful to everyone who made it such a beautiful night.

First up, Cheshire up and coming band Queen Cult kick things off with a wonderfully entertaining set. With a swirling infectious energy and quirky charisma, they immerse us in their fiercely impassioned offerings raging against the patriarchy; cementing themselves firmly as definite ones to watch on the new music scene.

Next up, Margate based pink suits deliver an immense and truly poignant set. From the wonderfully witty ‘Are You Gay Yet?’ to the all-too-resonant seething splendour of politcally-charged anthems such as ‘Fake Great Britain’ and ‘Anarchist Wisdom’, the incredible duo just seem to magnificently capture the burning anger, frustration and sadness that so many of us are feeling right now, whist bringing us together with an empowering sense of unity.

Headlining the night, we’re extremely honoured to have Bristol’s The Menstrual Cramps deliver their first London gig in over two and a half years. Covering topics ranging from political unrest and violence against women to more celebratory anthems in favour of pleasuring ourselves, the band’s shiny new line-up blast out raging offerings new and old with a ferocious energy and joyous, chaotic force. With their immense, impassioned drive and utterly necessary message of coming together against the right wing hellscape that this country is becoming, they simultaneously unite the crowd in a cathartic explosion of angst-driven power and elated euphoria. Shouting along to ‘Cull The Tories’ has never felt more urgent.

Huge love and thanks again to all three bands who played for us on Friday, and to everyone who came out to share the music and good vibes. We’re returning to The Victoria on 24th June with Slagheap, Nervous Twitch and The Famous Daxx – get your tickets on DICE now!

Words: Mari Lane
Photos: Keira-Anee Photography

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