Cece Lawless
First to the stage inside an unseasonably cold Kentish Town Forum (the air conditioning turned up to 11 is possibly a godsend for those who here to dance) Yorkshire’s goo have been steadily carving a name for themselves. Their sound is rich and immersive, with vocals floating above their warm, nostalgic riffs like smoke. Think early shoegaze textures with a confessional edge. The lead singer, softly-spoken, delivered vocals blurring the line between speech and song; delicate, intimate, and surprisingly powerful. With two guitarists layering atmosphere with precision, goo have an all encompassing sound. They’ve got a sizeable audience and even get most of the onlookers dancing and singing along.
Led by Sarah Tudzin, Illuminati Hotties are up next with their bouncing riffs, perfectly complimenting the sugar-coated vocals. From the moment the band stroll onstage clad in matching denim jackets in a delightful nod to scrappy ‘80s DIY cool, they’re making a statement. This isn’t your usual snarling, beer-sloshing sound, which can be associated with punk tinged indie rock. Instead, we’re treated to something a little safer perhaps, but undeniably well-crafted and infectiously fun. The songs land squarely in the “pleasant” zone. Catchy, polished, and hook-laden, even if they never quite pushed into truly dangerous territory. Still, that doesn’t stop the crowd from bouncing along, and it’s long before the crowd up the ante and erupt in sheer appreciation at every pause and song change.
Illuminati Hotties don’t exactly rip your face off , but they execute their sound perfectly. The band’s stage presence is tight, and they definitely enjoy themselves and there’s a charm in that, no gratuitous solos, no needless posturing. Just solid, well-oiled modern rock that rang clean and clear across the venue.
Visually, things are thoughtfully done. During the more subdued moments, the lights dim and become simpler, drawing us in closer, a neat atmospheric trick that mirrors the introspective turn in the setlist. Then, bringing the crowd back up mid-set, out struts Stefan Babcock from PUP for ‘Wreck My Life’, and the energy in the room quadruples instantly. They’re a safe pair of hands to warm the audience up for the headliners,
As a cheeky nod to the band name, PUP leap onto the stage to Baha Men’s ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’. The reaction was immediate and the roar of the crowd was near-deafening. The entrance song set the tone for the upbeat setlist that was coming.
Supporting the release of their fifth album Who Will Look After The Dogs?, PUP launch into their set like they’ve been fired out of a cannon strapped to a runaway freight train. Kicking off with tracks from their newest offering, the performance is chaos in the best possible way. Frontman Stefan Babcock eagerly tells the crowd; “The world is a piece of shit and we’re trying to make it less of a piece of shit!”.
It feels like a release valve for those who’ve made their way to the front. A mass exorcism of political frustration and personal existential dread, thrashed out in sweat-drenched unity. The floor turns into a storm of flailing limbs, with a far more raucous moshpit than the music begged for, but it’s fuelled by passion and happiness pouring forth from the moshers, not anger. Track after track, the energy never dips and PUP are electric. Despite leaping around the stage, Stefan didn’t tire or lose his breath once.
Anthemic in parts while calling on the audience to sing the lyrics back, it fills the venue with love and joy. The mutual affection between artist and audience is undeniable. Gratitude pours from the stage; glee and sweat is returned in waves. It’s a solid performance from the Canadian punks, whose energy is admirable, given their intense touring schedule. It’s also a near-perfect setlist curated with long term listeners in mind, bringing good fun to the stage and an energy that left the audience grinning.