Ez Luscombe
Fresh are no stranger to the UK’s diverse scene of punk-tinged indie rock and opening their support set with 2021 single ‘The Summer I Got Good at Guitar’, their energy was infectious and a great start to the night. With their Bristol show also falling on pride, the crowd was adorned with novelty fans and colourful attire which matched their musical style of peppy instrumentals mixed with vengeful lyrics that tackle women often being overlooked in the music industry, (‘Girl Clout’ and ‘Merch Girl’) and ode to personal freedom (‘Going to Brighton’). Their set was a notable blend of older songs, fan favourites, new songs, and a surprising cover of Tom Petty’s ‘I Won’t Back Down’ which was unexpected, yet very much appropriate in this current climate where peaceful protesters are persecuted and people who identify as LGBT having their rights questioned. Another highlight was the trauma-surviving anthem ‘Revenge’ and surely the crowd screaming the lyrics “I am valued, I am loved” was a cathartic release of emotion for anyone who has been a victim of abuse, violence, or harassment. Fresh may have only played a thirty-minute set they continue to leave a lasting impression, and have provided a safe space with their uncompromising sound and vulnerable, riot grrl adjacent lyrics.
Next up were Martha, who have been crafting punky, introspective music that encompasses the DIY, straight-edge and vegan ethics for almost fifteen years. With the release of their B-sides compilation Standing Where It All Began, they have cemented themselves as frontrunners in the scene with a loyal crew of fans. However, unlike many of their more hardcore-motivated contemporaries, Martha’s lyrical content ranges from pop culture nods to classic British soaps, falling in love at the supermarket, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics about trying to mosh to Huey Lewis & The News. Starting their set with ‘The Void’ from their third studio album Love Keeps Kicking, the energy between the group and the crowd was infectious despite Strange Brew only being a 300 capacity venue and despite their slot being less than an hour, they pulled out all the stops. Treating the crowd to deeps cuts such as ‘The Historian’ and ‘1978, Smiling Politely’ as well as the fan-requested ‘Curly & Raquel’ and ‘Precarious (The Supermarket Song)’, they powered through at least fifteen songs during their set and each one was certainly more energetic than the last. Midway through their set, they spoke up about the new laws affecting peaceful protests before going into the one of their more politically motivated tracks ‘Flag Burner’ taken from their 2022 release Please Don’t Take Me Back before providing the audience with information on how to donate to marginalised groups. Ending their set with early single ‘Bubble In My Bloodstream’ Martha certainly proved once again that they are icons in the UK indie-punk scene for not only their blend of poppy hooks and satirical humour but also for their relentless, yet necessary activism.
Last but certainly not lease on the bill was Cheekface, and it was quite obvious spotting their fans by looking at the crowd, many of which were sporting ironic cartoon character bags and ridiculously nineties Hawaiian shirts. With the band claiming a cult audience through catchy pop-punk hooks and a lyrical style that puts an unserious filter on modern-day societal woes, it’s easy to see why they’ve struck a chord with the average American citizen. The only way to sum up Cheekface’s set was the type of house party you would find in a quirky, offbeat 90s sitcom and starting their set with tongue-in-cheek and irony-laced ‘Popular 2’, there was less moshing and more disco-dancing. The band also incorporated classic anthems such as DJ Casper’s UK school disco staple ‘The Cha Cha Slide’ amidst their peppy, yet sardonic ‘Featured Singer’, Chappell Roan’s queer modern classic ‘Pink Pony Club’ which felt particularly relevant during the Bristol pride weekend, and an unexpected nu-metal cover of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers complete with topless percussionist Mark ‘Echo’ Edwards belting out the lyrics with insane precision. Another highlight from Cheekface’s set was their silly thirty-second ode to cup ramen ‘Noodles’ which got the crowd jumping and yelling the only lyrics to the song; “a big cup of noodles, a giant cup of noodles” and not only cemented them as America’s Local Band-but also America’s most comical band. Touring to promote their February release Middle Spoon which has been endorsed by both long-time fans and popular online music critics alike due to their dry, uncompromising spoken-word delivery courtesy of frontman Greg Katz, their wry and ironic wit translated swimmingly to a UK audience.
Ending with sarcastic smash-hit ‘Listen To Your Heart, No.’ many would agree that all three bands, Fresh with their fresh (no pun intended) take on feminism in modern alternative music, Martha’s melodic yet hard-hitting and relevant activism, and Cheekface’s humorous and mocking take on the mundane; this triple bill proved that punk and DIY spaces are still very much a home for the sarcastic, the sincere, and most importantly the outspoken.