The Garage fills up quickly in the presence of a dim blue haze. The crowd is diverse, rich and eager with punk in their bones and PUP in their veins.
Gender Roles are up first and the cotton candy pink of Tom Bennettâs hair lends itself to a beautiful juxtaposition with the hardcore punk tendencies to come. Itâs the first song of the night and naturally the crowd struggle to get into it, but Gender Roles are relentless as they launch into the next song with a untamed energy and authenticity that make them instantly and intensely likeable. Theyâve released an EP, âLazer Rushâ, and the songs they play from it are met with cheers from pockets of people who sing and bob along – proving this Brighton trio are already building a steady following.
Milk Teeth hold the main support slot and deliver the solid set of a well-rehearsed band. Every riff is in its place, the bass lines dirty and intimidating, and the drums a driving force for full-on tracks like âBrickworkâ and âStainâ. âFight Skirtâ is their trump card, baring teeth with grungy notes and a simple, but insanely good chorus. Becky Blomfieldâs almost lazy vocals are mesmerising and Em Foster only adds to the spell with intense harmonies.
The first glimpse of headline band, PUP, are when they set up their own stage. It suits them, genuine, without fuss and humble as hell. When we see them again, they launch into the angsty title track of their brand new studio album, âMorbid Stuffâ. The energy is electrifying, the room comes alive like Frankensteinâs monster, most fans are already singing along to a song thatâs only six days old and the band are loving it.
They also slip in single âFree at Lastâ alongside âKidsâ and âScorpion Hillâ and older tracks like âSleep in the Heatâ, as well as clear fan favourites like âDark Daysâ and âReservoirâ which receive deafening feedback from the crowd. The set is short, the songs fast; itâs all extremely punk and yeah, you donât want it to end too quickly, but holy shit, youâre loving the pace, so you just throw your hands up and enjoy it.
Stefan Babcock announces there are only two songs left and that âencores are too fucking weirdâ, so thisâll be your last chance to consume everything on offer. The energy of the band, buzz of the crowd and the straight up punk rock of âIf This Tour Doesnât Kill You, I Willâ and âDVPâ.
PUP are the embodiment of your first ever gig. If you could bottle the sheer excitement, wonder and spark that would eventually grow into an inextinguishable love of live music, you may as well label it PUP. Theyâre what musicâs about.
RENETTE VAN DER MERWE