Earlier this year saw the release of The Marigolds’ latest single, ‘Into My Head’; a devilishly catchy punk adjacent affair, the band paint themselves as an outfit that are destined to not just blow up your local basement venues, but stages far, far bigger than that. It is only reasonable that such an anthem was treated to a party for its release, and at Merseyside’s finest musical venue, that is exactly what was provided.
Support for the evening came in the form of Liverpudlian and Ukranian punk trio, Bleach Brain. A cult favourite on the Liverpool alternative scene, the band released their ‘Eat Shit‘ EP back in February of this year, and have been hard at work tearing up the live scene since then. Their sound is the perfect compliment to that of The Marigolds; scrappy, loud, and aggressive, tied up with just a pinch of wry, self-aware humour.
Presenting with a punk ferocity, Bleach Brain lace their sound with moments of sludgy grunge weight, leading to tracks that accumulate energy upon the stage, before being unloaded upon the listener with electrifying and unapologetic potency. It snags the attention of the audience immediately, eyes around the room squarely fixed upon the band as they consume the Future Yard in its entirety.
There’s a brilliant amount of character and charisma that runs deep in the band, with each member feeling incredibly fun to watch in their own unique way. Their bassist performs with some real rambunctious flair, constantly moving as if being shoved around by their own music, whilst their drummer perfectly manages to keep pace with the machine-gun rhythms of the bands material, and even manages to interject some genuinely humorous banter into proceedings in between the songs.
Their vocalist manages to deliver an impressive performance throughout, with her utterly ferocious screams managing to maintain power throughout the entirety of the set. There is a playfully intimidating quality about her stage presence that ensures that you know Bleach Brain are fully in control of this room; it is unsurprising that the audience evolve from standing, to moshing, to delivering a wall of death on the band’s command. It’s the sort of enthusiastic audience response that one might expect for a headline act.
The very same can be said for the genuine demands for one more song, to which Bleach Brain happily obliged. Shredding through their brilliantly fun track ‘I Can’t Cum‘ for a second time that evening, the band make it clear that they are wholly deserving of a headline stage, perhaps in some sweaty basement whose foundations may not withstand their sheer power. The band will be taking some time off from performances after September, so that gives you plenty of time to learn the lyrics and get your two-step perfected for their return.
You won’t want to miss it.
Anybody who has paid attention to the local live scene of Merseyside should be acquainted with The Marigolds. The three-piece have been tearing up the region since their inception, generating a reputation for bristling live performances, and a sound that defies a clear, singular label. Punk thunder merges seamlessly with psychedelic, poppy flair, with catchy hooks playing perfectly with vicious breakdowns and scathing riffs. It feels not only ready for mainstream radio, but the jukebox of your favourite dive bar.
All of the above was perfectly demonstrated on the band’s latest single, ‘Into My Head‘, with visceral verses colliding headlong with choruses that packed a vocal hook so insidiously catchy, it still remains firmly lodged within my brain to this day. For the band, this night was a promotion of this release, although the atmosphere of the evening ended up instead feeling as though this was an exhilarating celebration of the band’s journey thus far.
Commencing with a playback of Billy Joel’s ‘Always a Woman‘, the band take to the stage kitted out in their finest outfits, with vocalist Joe Green wearing a striking white lace gown; it serves a sharp visual contrast to the band’s material, which immediately explodes with raw, visceral punk noise. Scorching riffs are layered atop groove-soaked bass lines, loaded with distorted fuzz. The high technical proficiency of the band is more apparent than ever, with songs decorated with licks and fills that demand you not only pay close attention to the band, but pay high respects to them.
The band’s funk influences come through marvellously in a live setting, with the danceable energy of their music filling the room with sonic electricity that makes it completely impossible to stand still; the midst of the room is a swirling mix of moshing and dancing, turbocharged by enthusiastic members of fellow local bands alright (okay) and Sefeltt. Rhythmic switch-ups lead by drummer Charlie Foster act as moments of musical fireworks, perfectly backing this party of all things The Marigolds.
Guitarist Dan Kelly exudes a pure, palpable joy as he lays down some simply destructive riffs, before jumping down into the audience. It is clear how much this evening means to the band; as effortless as their performance seems, they are putting every ounce of their passion and drive into the performance, and are rewarded with an audience that simply refuses to relent in terms of engagement and energy. It’s as Muse as it is Sex Pistols, as Rage Against The Machine as it is The Clash, as the band’s scrappy punk core morphs and expands into monstrously groovy breakdowns and choruses that beg you to sing along, even if you don’t know the words.
For a couple of tracks, the bass is handed off to Kelly, whilst Green busts out a synth machine to help conjure up some of the band’s more experimental cuts. It acts not only as a pleasant moment to get ones breath back, but a way of demonstrating explicitly that The Marigolds are far more than just another punk band; there’s a real ambition to their sound that is certain to blossom as the band fully perfect their craft.
Things get ramped up once more as the band approach the end of their set. ‘Into My Head‘ sounds even better performed live than it does on its studio recording; the true immensity of the track’s thunderous bass and chunky guitar riffs is on full display in a live setting, commanding that the audience pull on whatever reserves of energy they have left to give the band the send off they deserve. The delicate balance of moshing and dancing fully tips in favour of moshing, with two stepping and playful pushing rippling across the room as the band storm through their final few tracks and well deserved encore.
For a scene so famed for its indie, Merseyside has developed a shockingly robust and energetic punk community. The Marigolds showcase the very best of this, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that is perfect for gnarled punk veterans, and newcomers just discovering their local scene. Let The Marigolds into your head, and you won’t ever want them to leave.
Featured photo credit belongs to @florintein.
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Bleach Brain
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