There’s something about punk rock and a woman’s voice that works absurdly well together, and if you were at First Unitarian Church this past Thursday 8/28, you probably agree. A stellar lineup of noisy bands including Perfect Pussy, Joanna Gruesome, Potty Mouth, and Love Of Everything made for an upbeat and crowded celebration.
Love Of Everything (Bobby Burg of Joan of Arc) started out the night on the softer side, the one man band recorded his own instruments on the spot, layering them until he had a full band at his fingertips. Using bass, guitar, a synth, some bells, and even a camera flash as instruments, it was very impressive to watch him craft the songs live. Once he got the songs moving, he would carry the tune in grand fashion, or even sample his own voice to add to the mix of sounds. Check Love Of Everything out here.
Massachusetts all-girl punk band Potty Mouth played next, bringing some killer hooks and melodies that seem to draw influence from some old-school punk bands. The band really brought their sound to life at the show, especially the hectic moments of “The Spins” were even more enthusiastic and care-free. Check out their album Hell Bent here.
UK punk band Joanna Gruesome’s set swayed between their more laid-back, melodic hooks and their more furious, fast and abrasive ones. Lead singer Alanna McArdle sang wistfully, and projected her voice to accompany their most intense moments with impassioned shouts. They played standouts off their album Weird Sister, as well as a track off their split with Perfect Pussy, all with precision in harmonies and guitar shredding. As the band ended their set, McArdle left the stage to make more room for the rest of the band to go bezerk in one last moment of fury during “Sugarcrush.” The guitarists and bassist jumped around the stage, slamming their instruments, and even using an empty beer can to make the guitar scream a little louder. Listen to Joanna Gruesome here.
Brooklyn’s recently acclaimed noise-punk five-piece Perfect Pussy took the stage and absolutley obliterated ears. Their aggressive style of moving around the stage and playing at breakneck speeds along with a loaded keyboard got the crowd moving, jumping, and even crowd-surfing. Singer Meredith Graves toiled around the stage and knelt to the floor as she emptied her lungs into the mic, fighting for any amount of audibility in the rough mix. The band played an awesome assortment of songs off their debut full length Say Yes To Love and their EP I Have Lost All Desire For Feeling, including “Driver,” “Interference Fits,” and “IV.” Their short, knock-out set left the sweaty crowd baffled as the electronic sounds from keyboardist Shaun Sutkus brought the night to an ephemeral end. Listen to their debut EP here, or their debut album on Spotify.
PhillyPunk 