Large Joanie | Fräulein |Pink Fits
Folkestone Quarterhouse, Kent.
tenth October 2023

What do you get while you assemble a “London-based Black feminist Punk band”, a Dutch/Irish duo who mix “thrashing riffs with bombing percussion” and a “non-binary, queer feminist Punk Rock and rage” couple? The reply; some very intense performances stuffed with ardour and perspective. The Quarterhouse in Folkestone was fortunate sufficient, thanks partly to indicate hosts Melting Vinyl, to have Large Joanie, Fräulein and Kent’s personal Pink Fits for one night time of musical mayhem forward of Large Joanie’s European tour. (They wanted the merch gross sales to assist pay for the journey to France!)

After a day of unseasonably sizzling climate on the channel shoreline, Pink Fits, travelling simply 28 miles south down the street from Margate, have been first up. The Quarterhouse had achieved away with the tiered seating and even removed the stage for the night time because the viewers and bands met at eye stage. In the event you can recall the Nirvana – ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video you’ll not be far off, though sadly there have been no cheerleaders, no crowd browsing and no mosh-pit! (So, most likely a nasty instance!)

Lennie, guitars and vocals, and Ray, drums and vocals, have been fast to get into the groove with some machine gun percussion offering the platform for Len’s pointed vocal efficiency and his revolving guitar riffs. Dressed, as is their need, in complimentary pink outfits that may have made Molly Ringwald proud, the pair had vitality and enthusiasm aplenty. Their nine-track set contained largely new materials from the album they’ve simply completed. “It’s principally the identical form of stuff, indignant political rage enterprise…we felt issues aren’t getting higher so we’re gonna maintain yelling about it” Lennie defined.

This subsequent tune is from our new album, it’s known as “A Complete Breakdown Of How Trickle Down Economics Works”. Ray counted in, “One, two, three, 4” earlier than Lennie hit an influence chord and screamed – “It doesn’t”. The shortest ‘tune’ of the night time lead them into arguably their greatest – ‘Pretend Nice Britain’ earlier than the title observe of the brand new LP – ‘Dystopian Hellscape’. Penultimately, ‘Are You Homosexual But?’ introduced a couple of wry smiles from the viewers earlier than the duo completed the set with their “anthem”, and close-out observe from ‘Political Youngster’, ‘Pink Fits Everybody’.

Fräulein have been up subsequent as they reversed the roles of Pink Fits with Northern Irish lead singer and guitarist Joni Samuels up entrance and Karsten van der Tol on drums. The duo, who’ve been favourably in comparison with Royal Blood, additionally handled the Folkestone crowd to a nine-track set and one very achieved drum solo. The brand new single – ‘The Final Drop’, served because the band’s opener adopted in fast succession by two extra new songs, ‘Wait And See’ and an early spotlight – ‘Pruning’. It was after Karsten’s solo stint that Fräulein offered their greatest shock of the night. Eschewing the necessity to go arduous and heavy the duo determined to show it down a notch and gradual proceedings down. They did in order they carried out presumably their greatest observe – ‘Feeling Good’. The extra thought-about and fewer intense supply suited the band and will sign a shift in course.

Large Joanie, high of the invoice, adopted the 2 supporting duos as they set about entertaining the Folkestone trustworthy and controlling a disappointing, uncharacteristically unruly, factor current within the crowd. The London four-piece beckoned the appreciative onlookers ahead earlier than breaking into final 12 months’s album opener – ‘Cactus Tree’ after which viewers favorite – ‘Happier Nonetheless’. Of the primary eight tracks performed, all however one was lifted from Large Joanie’s sophomore album, ‘Again Residence’. ‘Taut’, caught between a charged ‘Used To Be Pals’ and a loaded – ‘Assured Man’, was the one early observe to be taken from the band’s critically acclaimed debut LP – ‘Sistahs’.

Large Joanie, and particularly bassist Estella Adeyeri, have been deep into their set earlier than they, and he or she specifically, determined to name out those who have been spoiling the enjoyment of the night time for the overwhelming majority of the individuals. Her phrases labored in each attainable method. The disrupters left and subsequently, Large Joanie’s efficiency was clearly elevated to a brand new stage.

Taking trip in the direction of the tip of the set, Adeyeri paused to dedicate ‘Sainted’ to the band’s authentic drummer, Chardine Taylor-Stone, and in flip to the trans individuals she would have devoted the tune to. It was Large Joanie’s greatest observe of the night time. Tight, pushed, passionate and highly effective. Their greatest tune so far, ‘Fall Asleep’ closed out the primary set earlier than a tentative return – “we weren’t positive of the vibe”, noticed BJ carry out their impressed Solange cowl – ‘Cranes In The Sky’ and eventually – ‘In My Arms’.

Large Joanie now set off for the European leg of their tour by way of Germany, Belgium and France with Fräulein supporting them on every date. They return to the UK in November to play Band On The Wall in Manchester and Earth in London.

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You could find Large Joanie right here
You could find Fräulein right here
You could find Pink Fits right here

All phrases by Andrew Lockwood. Extra writing by Andrew Lockwood will be discovered at his writer’s archive.

All images by Aaron Thompson. AMP Images