INTERVIEW: The Taboo Club

The Taboo Club / Paul Reynolds

Words by Sam Lambeth / Pics by Paul Reynolds

**On Saturday 29th September, The Taboo Club headline the next Birmingham Review live music showcase at The Victoria on John Bright Street – with support from Liquid Cheeks and Lilac Noise. Doors open upstairs at The Victoria from 7pm, with tickets price at £7 (adv) and £10 (otd) – as presented by Birmingham Review.

At the time of writing this event has a third sold out. To buy any of the remaining General Admission advance tickets click here, or to buy tickets direct from The Taboo Club click here. Join the Facebook Event Page by clicking here**

January 2018. If you happened to have frequented one of Birmingham’s more dimly-lit dive bars, you might have seen him there. A man with hair like a raven’s nest, dark and dishevelled, his waiflike physique squeezed into a squalid suit and his hands bulging violently out of his pockets. Josh Rochelle-Bates had a lot on his mind. He had spent several years as the bassist and main creative force behind mercurial Midland miserablists Semantics. Now an uncertain world lay ahead of him. Like OJ Simpson post-trial, he was alone, aloof, and alienated in a world that seemed foreign and unforgiving. The band had announced an indefinite hiatus, and Rochelle-Bates felt adrift as the adulation of the Second City gave way to silence.

Joshua Rochelle-Bates - in Paris / Sam LambethMiles away from Birmingham, fellow Semantics stalwart Rob Lilley was feeling similarly sombre. Despite the occasional accusation that Semantics were nothing but ‘Interpoor’, they had a brooding beauty and glacial gracefulness that separated them from the Harborne herd. For Rochelle-Bates and Lilley, they knew they’d return to music, and one word stuck in their heads.

“Collaboration,” says Rochelle-Bates in the July afternoon sun, sipping a bold glass of claret in a Paris eatery. “I think for once I actually suspended expectation and let myself be open to a much wider spectrum of ideas, emotions and ways of articulating them. My hope was to find people who were passionate about creating and expressing themselves, and would be open to working in a collaborative environment.”

As Rochelle-Bates tilts his chair in self-satisfaction, expensive plonk in one hand and a forkful of French fancy in the other, you realise Paris is the perfect place to personify his new band’s sound. They are The Taboo Club, a phenomenal five-piece that are the musical manifestation of buzzing neon signs, decadent derails down depraved alleys, and a sharp eye for smart fashion. Their recent single, ‘Strangers’, exudes gratuitous sax and senseless violins (well, more of the former), brass bursting out of the hi-fi over muscular guitar gristle, Rochelle-Bates’ creamy bass licks and Lilley’s warped howl.

The Taboo Club / Paul ReynoldsYes, Lilley is the one who has enjoyed perhaps the biggest transformation. In Semantics, he was quiet, charismatic and concerned. Now he’s gradually turning into a real frontman, coquettishly waving his tambourine and tantalisingly twitching his hedonistic hips. For him, joining The Taboo Club was a revelation. “I immediately wanted to be a part of it,” he says. “The creative freedom and experimentation was one of the first things that stood out to me. I love the fact that it’s enabled me to pull from a wide array of influences, but everyone’s suggestions remain on the table – that’s an enticing draw for any artist.”

Enough about Semantics now. That chapter is closed. The Taboo Club is open for business and the five band members couldn’t be happier. With his tousled and slightly untamed mane, flamboyant shirts and overall quiet demeanour, guitarist Jack Ingaglia is the James May of the gang. “We have a shared goal of creative freedom, but I don’t think we’ve always been on the same page – that’s what makes writing exciting,” he says. “We all pull in slightly different directions.” For ‘Strangers’, Ingaglia’s role was more textural. “There are some jagged guitar chords tucked away in there, which come from my love of funk and soul,” he says. “I also did a lot of guitar doodling in the verses.”

‘Strangers’ has enjoyed considerable success, but The Taboo Club are fast becoming known for their overall aesthetic, which seems to be that of a gang of gangly male models enjoying a snifter of scotch after a long day of posing. “I certainly think it’s accurate based on what we have allowed people to see so far,” nods drummer Aiden Price, slayer of snare and sharp of cheekbone. “The music is, of course, our top priority but we want to give people the complete package – great songs, distinct image and personality. The lot.”

There are many exciting things around the corner. The next single, ‘Bible John’, will be released in the autumn, with the band once again using the services of a certain Ryan Pinson for production (“He has such a good ear and an innate attention to detail,” gushes the band’s multi-instrumentalist Ben Oerton). ‘Bible John’, according to Oerton, is the soundtrack to a “Quentin Tarantino film about a serial killer,” which feels like a very accurate description.

Also coming soon is the band’s big showcase gig at The Victoria in Birmingham, taking place on the 29th of September. As always, Rochelle-Bates-Kennedy-Onassis advises us to expect the unexpected. “We wanted to do something unique, different and immersive instead of just a headline show,” he reveals. “Expect for it to be really strange.”

Strange it will be, but no doubt like everything The Taboo Club has offered its loyal members so far, it’ll be unforgettable, debauched, and damn right delightful.

On Saturday 29th September, The Taboo Club headline the next live music showcase with Birmingham Review at The Victoria on John Bright Street – with Liquid Cheeks and Lilac Noise in support. For more information visit the Facebook Event Page by clicking here – or click on See Tickets the logo for a direct link to online sales.

For more on The Taboo Club, visit www.facebook.com/TheTabooClubUK

For more on The Victoria, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

BPREVIEW: The Taboo Club + Liquid Cheeks, Lilac Noise @ The Victoria 29.09.18

Words by Ed King

On Saturday 29th September, The Taboo Club headline the next Birmingham Review live music showcase – at The Victoria on John Bright Street.

Joining The Taboo Club will be Liquid Cheeks, playing their first live set as the newly formed electro/garage two piece – showcasing their current singles ‘He’s a Flower’ and ‘Serendipity’, alongside never before heard new music.

Also appearing will be Lilac Noise, Stoke’s electro melodic four piece who have been building a maelstrom of momentum since May this year – coming to Birmingham for their first show in the city, and riding the trail of their soon to be released debut single ‘Paradox’.

Doors open upstairs at The Victoria from 7pm, with tickets price at £7 (adv) and £10 (otd) – as presented by Birmingham Review. To stay up to day with announcements on our next live music showcase, keep reading Birmingham Review or join the Facebook Event Page by clicking here.

** At the time of writing this event has quarter sold out, to buy any of the remaining General Admission advance tickets click hereAdvance tickets are also available through each of the artists performing: to buy tickets from The Taboo Club, click here. To buy tickets from Liquid Cheeks, click here. To buy tickets from Lilac Noise, click here**

The Taboo Club are a newly formed ensemble of longstanding local musicians, delivering a ‘heartbreakingly cathartic’ amalgamation of genres and influences – all tinged with the sultry, low lit vibes of a ‘bourbon lit Harlem dive bar’. Led by rising waves of rhythm guitar, over an identifiable bass backbone, their sounds also embraces strong elements of saxophone and keys, with Rob Lilley’s brooding vocals firmly at the helm.

The Taboo Club released their debut single ‘Strangers’ on 20th July – an impressive ‘layer cake of crescendos’ produced by Ryan Pinson, and available to stream for free through the band’s Spotify account. You can also read our Birmingham Review of ‘Strangers’ here. But save some pocket money as more releases are set to come from the ensemble in Autumn, with the Birmingham Review live music showcase being the first chance to hear The Taboo Club’s newest material.

Performing as the evening’s local support, Liquid Cheeks will be joining The Taboo Club at The Victoria on Saturday 29th September. The new project from Ben Ollis Gibbs and Greg Clarke – two core members of the now disbanded Byron Hare – Liquid Cheeks are a glorious mix of electro, indie, and garage rock, delivering absurdly addictive melodies and a confident swagger.

With series of introductory singles in production or the pipeline, Liquid Cheeks have already got two new releases ‘on shelf’ – launching with ‘He’s a Flower’ in July. To read our Birmingham Review of their latest single, ‘Serendipity’, click here. Liquid Cheeks will be showcasing new material at The Victoria on Saturday 29th September, in the debut live set from this impressive new two piece.

Launched in Stoke earlier this year, Lilac Noise are an electro melodic four piece who have picked up the mantle of bands such as London Grammar – delivering a guitar and keys led sound with husky vocals and classically trained melodies at its heart.

Already creating an avalanche of excitement around The Midlands, Lilac Noise will join the live music showcase bill to play their debut Birmingham show at The Victoria on Saturday 29th September. Watch out for Lilac Noise’s debut single too, ‘Pardaox’, which is set for release in the next few weeks.

On Saturday 29th September, The Taboo Club headline the next live music showcase with Birmingham Review at The Victoria on John Bright Street – with Liquid Cheeks and Lilac Noise in support. For more information visit the Facebook Event Page by clicking here – or click on See Tickets the logo for a direct link to online sales.

For more on The Taboo Club, visit www.facebook.com/TheTabooClubUK 

For more on Liquid Cheeks, visit www.facebook.com/liquidcheeks 

For more on Lilac Noise, visit www.facebook.com/lilacnoiseuk 

For more on The Victoria, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

SINGLE: ‘Strangers’ – The Taboo Club 20.07.18

‘Strangers’ – The Taboo Club 20.07.18

Words & live pics by Ed King

On Friday 20th July, The Taboo Club release their debut single ‘Strangers’ – a taste of what’s to come, with their next track, ‘Bible John’, already earmarked for release in autumn this year. But first things first.

‘Strangers’ will be available for free download through the standard online steaming sites from Friday 20th July, with some helpful signposts no doubt on the band’s social media. For more information direct from The Taboo Club just hop, skip and jump over to their Facebook page – click here.

The first track to come from this relatively new band (although each member has been playing in one guise or another for long enough for me to wince at the descriptive) ‘Strangers’ is as perfect an introduction to The Taboo Club as you could get.The Taboo Club - supporting The Mothers Earth Experiment @ The Dark Horse 13.07.18 / Ed King Having recently seen them pop their live cherry at The Dark Horse – supporting those glorious astral adventurers, The Mothers Earth Experiment – The Taboo Club are hard a little to surmise. But it’s my job to try, and by doing so I will be making a paint by numbers review of ‘Strangers’ itself. Right then, where to begin…

There’s a sax, which is awesome, and keys, which are both wonderfully used (not over) by Ben Oerton. Although this invites the lazy journalist jazz references to come spilling out when I’m not watching the keyboard.

But this is not jazz, even if it reminds me of ‘bourbon lit Harlem dive bars’; the overall ‘tapestry of genres’ from The Taboo Club is very much driven by guitar – a duel attack from Jack Ingaglia (rhythm) and Josh Rochelle-Bates (bass), reminding this writer of the Velvet Underground if they happened across Maceo Parker one night and took a shit load of mushrooms. Then, lurking behind some omnipresent red velvet curtains, is a steady kick drum, heartbeat, and teasing rim tap from Aiden Price – all led by Rob Lilley’s deep, brooding, and yet curiously comforting vocals.The Taboo Club - supporting The Mothers Earth Experiment @ The Dark Horse 13.07.18 / Ed King

‘Strangers’ works with these jigsaw pieces, creating a surprisingly short layer cake of crescendos; I say surprisingly short as you could quite easily, and happily, see this ensemble rise and freefall for a good 15minutes before pausing for breath. And no doubt, in the aforementioned New Your suburb, someone under some other name is doing just that.

Produced with aplomb by Ryan Pinson, ‘Strangers’ is a touch of red velvet class to come out of the Birmingham music scene – a true musical fusion without the hubris or hangover of years at the Conservatoire. But to be fair, any of The Taboo Club could well be classically trained – they just haven’t felt the need to tell us about it during the first round of drinks. And the second.

But they did have a few words to throw on the table, in a bold declaration from the ‘Strangers’ press statement, that explains: ‘The Taboo Club are entirely of their own, comprising of and expressing the values of its individual members to create something heart-breakingly cathartic’. And I couldn’t have put it better myself.

The Taboo Club release ‘Strangers’ on Friday 20th July – available for free download through all the usual online steaming sites. For more on The Taboo Club, visit www.facebook.com/TheTabooClubUK

The Taboo Club Showcase Gig with Birmingham Review will be held at The Victoria on Saturday 29th September. To find out more, and to be on the waiting list for when tickets are released, visit the Facebook Event Page by clicking here.

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

THE GALLERY: P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18

P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

 

 

 

Words by Lydia Fizer / Pics by Paul Reynolds

Otherwise known as the Oven of Aural Delights, >1000°C. “Me eyebrows are comin’ off!” – Molly McDonald, P.E.T bassist extraordinaire.

P.E.T. Ah, what can I say about P.E.T? That I’m beyond excited to see them again. That they have the purest punk sound which will pierce you to the core. That they’ve chosen their favourite local bands for the lineup tonight. It’s gonna be a good one. I can feel it in my water.

This gig is special, and not just because the lineup promises greatness. Tonight is the first time that the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK campaign stickers are in action. These are part of a larger campaign working against the cases of sexual assault, violence, and misconduct which are making our local music scene unsafe. Right this moment, P.E.T vocalist Abi Whistance is scouring the venue, slapping a sticker on anyone she can reach.

Flares – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsIf you see these stickers at a music event in the future, please wear one. Even better, order some and distribute them. We are all responsible for showing solidarity in the face of sexual aggression, and demonstrating to the perpetrators that their actions will not be tolerated. You can get the stickers and information here, and even more information about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK campaign here. As Whistance would say, “Get your hands off me, I’m not your P.E.T!”

Onwards. The first band to the stage are Flares, a babyfaced bundle of punk realness. They’re only 14/15 years old, but they are not to be underestimated. Their music is more mature than some bands twice their age.

They open with ‘Anywhere, Anywhere’ and bring a sound that hits your chest like a hammer. Their instrumentals are at once grungy and sharp. They move to the music with confidence. Flares are strong enough that covers of iconic songs are vibrant from their mouths. They get the whole room dancing to Buzzcocks’ ‘Ever Fallen in Love’, and stamp their own sound into M.I.A.’s ‘Paper Planes’.  The beat keeps rolling right to the end of their final track, ‘Pastime’. They don’t put a note wrong.

The Butters Aliens – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

Next up are The Butters Aliens. They have electric vocals from Ed Draper and an irresistible sound. The room is a mass of flailing limbs within the first minute of their set.

They smash a cover of FIDLAR’s ‘Stoked and Broke’, and I can’t help thinking that they play with unbelievable accuracy if they’re as baked as they claim. It’s so catchy. So memorable. It’s shoe-throwingly good (no, really. Shoes and hats are cast asunder. You don’t need them in hell). Later they cover FIDLAR’s ‘No Waves’. The old YouTube videos don’t do these covers justice at all; this show is leaving me blissfully broken – as Draper sings in ‘No Waves’, “I need a new body and I need a new soul”.

They set light to another firecracker, ‘Powerslide’. It makes me smile to see drummer Matt Homback briefly swap places with vocalist/guitarist Draper. Bring your drummers to the front and let them feel the love.The Butters Aliens (and some of Miilkk) – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds They follow this with ‘No Name’. I’m left feeling like I need their CD for when I want to bounce around like a monkey on crack (admit it, you know how I feel).

There’s a whole load of gorgeous camaraderie between the bands tonight. They start mosh pits in one another’s honour, they write each other’s initials across their chests. Vocalist/guitarist of Miilkk, Jack Dixon, is called onto stage with The Butters Aliens to lend his exuberance. The Aliens end on an unearthly headbanging beat. Miilkk take to the stage. Drummer Fin Elwell-Jones’ facial glitter twinkles with promise.

I love it. The crowd loves it. I couldn’t have predicted this – Miilkk have a few bits and pieces on YouTube, but not enough to convey their real character. I left their YouTube account thinking The Moldy Peaches. I see them live and they turn the room into a metal party. Dixon has a classic, almost scratchy voice which takes me back to the first time I heard Kurt Cobain sing (‘Lithium’, in case you were wondering. I forget the year).

Miilkk whip out a fantastic cover of FIDLAR’s ‘Cheap Beer’, supercharging the crowd with an incredible hook.Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds This was a cover worth screaming over (and won’t be the last FIDLAR cover of the night. Why so many songs by FIDLAR? I’m beginning to think this is a conspiracy. Maybe all the bands are actually FIDLAR in disguise. We may never know for sure).

There’s a brief moment where I think I hear bassist Harry Snell sneak a beautiful punk falsetto scream. It was so quick I might have imagined it. Snell, is it real or am I dreaming? If it is real, do it again. Bigger.

Elwell-Jones has lost his shirt by this point. He has ‘THICC DADDY’ scrawled across his chest in red. I notice it through a haze of happiness – I’m riding on bass vibrations running from my fingers to my skull. Miilkk are my favourite band so far. I’m not sure what kind of milk these guys are selling, but I bet it’s of the Clockwork Orange variety because I am tripping.

Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

They do a cover of Dead Kennedys’ ‘California Über Alles’, causing one of the most hyperactive mosh pits of all time. The crowd gets down to the floor, thrumming like motors during the buildup. The room leaps – Dixon steps into the crowd with his guitar – they finish with a marching beat and a wail.

Miilkk launch into a string of cracking originals, including ‘Miss Tequila’ and ‘Pilly Willy’ (which is fast and furious – unlike the willy in question, presumably). They end with their newest song ‘Chinese Wine’; the chorus is the stuff that metal dreams are made of. Dixon screams with soul – I feel it in my bones.

Finally, it’s time for P.E.T. I’ve seen them before. I fell in love with them very quickly, and I’m thrilled to see them again as a headline act. Each band member is a powerhouse of sass.P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds They’re fronted by Abi Whistance, the Ultimate Punk Dream Girl. She’s all fishnets and fiery eyes.

They hurl into the first number, ‘Internalised’, with all the force I’d ever hoped for. They have so much confidence, channeling their power and energy in every way possible. I can’t express how happy this makes me. A few months ago, a little confidence was all they needed to become practically perfect. I reckon they’ve now arrived in their most fabulous form, like a fully evolved Pokémon ready to win every battle.

They play ‘Bunnyboiler’, and bassist Rosie Jones grooves like the goddess that she is. Their cover of The Ting Tings’ ‘Shut Up and Let Me Go’ is honestly better than the original. You’d agree if you heard it. It’s hard not to be lured in by Whistance; she has the piercing voice of a punk-rock siren. A mass of crowd members clamber onto stage and stamp out the beat.P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds They move on to ‘TV’, then finally to my favourite song of theirs, ‘P.E.T’. I really want them to record it so that I can listen to it every second of the day forever.

P.E.T are so entertaining on stage. They’re engaging. They’re cool, witty, personable… I can’t praise them enough. They prepare to cover Pixies’ ‘Tame’. Here unfolds my favourite moment so far. McDonald announces, “I went to Poundland and got some prizes. It’s a bit sh*t […] but whoever moshes the best gets a personal prize from me.” We take this challenge very seriously. The three winners each earn a medal and a lifelong invisible badge of honour. Also, glowsticks for everyone.

The whole crowd screams along to ‘Tommy’ – it’s P.E.T’s first recorded track, which you can listen to for free.P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds It was actually written about the antics of The Butters Aliens, which gives the gig an interesting dynamic; I almost feel like I’m at an alt-family reunion/roasting. McDonald is suddenly wearing Draper’s hat, and more shoes are thrown into the air. How does this keep happening? I’m surrounded by hobbits.

They prepare to play their best known cover. McDonald cries, “Does anyone know all the words to ‘Wannabe’? Anybody can get up if they want.” A mass of crowd members get onto the stage. Together, the crowd and P.E.T give a performance The Spice Girls would die for.

For the final song of the night, we are treated to something spectacular. A song they’ve never played before. A song they’ve only rehearsed once. If I thought the energy was high before, this is a whole new level. Introducing: ‘Rich People’.

There are a series of famous names. Whistance growls, fangs bared, “Weinstein […] Morgan Freeman […]”. She comes to the edge of the stage, trembling like a bomb. “Rich people don’t dance in movies. Rich people don’t dance in films”. 

I can’t convey the intensity of the performance in words. I’m afraid you’ll just have to go and see P.E.T yourself.

 

 

 

P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsP.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

For more on P.E.T, visit www.facebook.com/petbanduk

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Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds Miilkk – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

For more on Miilkk, visit www.facebook.com/MIILKKBand

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The Butters Aliens – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

The Butters Aliens – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds The Butters Aliens – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsThe Butters Aliens – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul ReynoldsThe Butters Aliens – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

For more on The Butters Alien, visit www.soundcloud.com/buttersaliens

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Flares – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

Flares – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds Flares – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds Flares – supporting P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18 / Paul Reynolds

For more on Flares, visit www.facebook.com/Flares

For more on Psych Productions, visit www.psychproductions.co.uk

For more from The Sunflower Lounge, including venue details and full event listings, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

BPREVIEW: P.E.T @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18

P.E.T - supporting Rews @ Hare & Hounds 22.03.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Words by Ed King / Pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

On Sunday 1st July, P.E.T headline at The Sunflower Lounge, with support from Miilkk, The Butter Aliens + Flares – as presented by Psych Productions.

Tickets are priced at £6 and available on the door or in advance through the bands performing, so click on any of the highlighted names in this BPREVIEW for the relevant links. Likewise, to visit the Facebook Event Page click here.

P.E.T have somewhat stormed onto the Birmingham music scene, only forming back in October last year yet already carving a place for themselves at the forefront of Birmingham’s punk rock fraternity. P.E.T + Miilkk, The Butters Aliens, Flares @ The Sunflower Lounge 01.07.18Full of raw energy and musical smarts, this Abi Whistance fronted four piece have supported acts from Rews to The Cosmics – delivering a powerful punk rock punch wherever they appear on the bill, driven by the ferocious energy of their ‘tiny but mighty’ lead singer. Not one of our descriptions, but one we love all the same.

But it’s the unity from this band in their entity that makes them so special; both on stage and off, P.E.T are a “real fucking rock band” – to steal a summation that was once yelled out by the Alabama 3 frontman to The Hungry Ghosts. Yep, we’re putting P.E.T in that camp – namely the one where all the bands who kick ass with integrity live. Plus, guitarist Molly McDonald’s dry humour – with some awesome to/fro with bassist Rosie Jones – is freakin’ hilarious. (P.E.T‘s drummer, Kris Szulecki, is also a bit of a legend, but too covered in cymbals to get much of a vocal input whilst performing. Catch him at the bar though…)

But it’s no secret at Birmingham Review we think P.E.T are all alterations of awesomeness, and if you want a bit more background for your bounce rate then check out our 2cents on P.E.T’s debut single, ‘Tommy’, which came out on Friday 4th May. And if you haven’t seen P.E.T live yet, you can expect a high octane set with some delicious band banter; on stage is absolutely where they shine this band shines the brightest. In all seriousness, P.E.T are a bit of a ‘golden marker’ as my friend used to call it, and as ‘of the moment’ / ‘one to watch’ as you can respectably get on Birmingham’s gig circuit right now. If you have halP.E.T - supporting The Cosmics @ The Sunflower Lounge 17.03.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffef a live music heart you should pay this band some well deserved attention.

Sliding into the first base of main support are Miilkk, the self professed ‘messy psych, punk, grunge band from Birmingham’ who have a less than discerning taste in cider. We’re not overly familiar with this local three piece at BRHQ, but Miilkk have come recommended to us by P.E.T and that’s usually a good enough witness statement for us. Although if you need a more autonomous introduction, I would like to present to the court Exhibit A and Exhibit B.

Next on the bill are The Butters Aliens, again with the whole hearted support from the night’s headline act. Spangly, jangly, bouncy, garage rock, The Butters Aliens have been on the Birmingham Review Hit List for a while now, and seeing as the current default setting is ‘HEATWAVE’ we thought it would be about the right time to check them out. In a tiny, packed out, sweat filled subterranean mosh pit. In for a penny…

Then there’s Flares, bringing some more indie rock flavour to the evening’s proceedings. Again, we’re not overly familiar with Flares but they did bash out a pretty impressive support set at the Rose Dive gig back in May. Plus, there are a couple of recordings from their recent session at Rain Studios that are certainly worth checking out. But, again (again) if it’s got the P.E.T seal of approval then we’re prepared to sacrifice a pint and a half of cider on the door charge to find out.

So there you have it, not a bad way to see out your weekend. And as mentioned before, tickets can be bought on the door or in advance from the bands themselves – so click on the highlighted links in this BPREVIEW or click here for the Facebook Event Page.

On Sunday 1st July, P.E.T headline at The Sunflower Lounge with support from Miilkk, The Butters Aliens + Flares – as presented by Psych Productions. For direct event information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1068346046636931

For more on P.E.T, visit www.facebook.com/petbanduk

For more on Miilkk, visit www.facebook.com/MIILKKBand

For more on The Butters Alien, visit www.soundcloud.com/buttersaliens

For more on Flares, visit www.facebook.com/Flares

For more on Psych Productions, visit www.psychproductions.co.uk

For more from The Sunflower Lounge, including venue details and full event listings, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com