Pussy Riot Benefit Gig, Green Park Tavern, Bath 12th October 2012 - Review

It's only when we're serious and start to make fuss,

That the smug politicians show their real face.

- Crass "You're Already Dead", 1984 

They're one of the most talked about bands at the moment, their story has been printed in pretty much every daily newspaper on the planet and they're on the news every other night - yet you won't find their music in your local record store. They are punk to the core - intelligent, rebellious, shocking and politically-charged. Pussy Riot are more than just a band. Like Anonymous and some Occupy protesters, they cover their faces while in public. Pussy Riot could be anyone. They are an anonymous political force, standing up for women and against the corrupt leader of their country.

Rock music has a long and colourful history of bands and artists standing up to authority and highlighting issues - from popular fund-raisers such as Live Aid to the Sex Pistols boat trip on the Queen's Silver Jubilee, John Lennon and Yoko Ono lying in bed to Rage Against the Machine in Guantanamo Bay-style boiler suits, Julian Cope's display of support for the Newbury Bypass protests on the ground and on Top of the Pops, to the Rock Against Bush movement founded by NOFX bass player and vocalist Fat Mike, the Rock Against Racism movement and Brian May's recent opposition to the badger cull - all big news and arguably heroic acts. But few have caught the attention of the world's media in quite the same way as Pussy Riot.

Going back a few months, three members were arrested for singing a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. One member has been released, while the remaining two face several years of imprisonment - for standing up for themselves and others, and causing no harm to anyone, except Putin's credibility on the world stage.

Amnesty International have launched a campaign to free the imprisoned girls, and tonight is a both a fundraiser for the campaign and a celebration of awesome local female-fronted rock and roll. 

Jemima Surrender

Jemima Surrender

First on stage is a one-woman set that can rock harder than most hard rock bands and just moments later slip into sweet, seductive melodies. Jemima's vocal style falls somewhere between a less-gravelly Kim Gordon, with the manicness of Kristen Hersch, and makes clever usages of vocal sampling to add depth to her songs. Named after a song by The Band and inspired as much by 1960s French pop music, such as Jacques Dutronc, as by the Riot Grrrl movement, and using unusual timings, Jemima delivers a strong performance and pushes the boundaries of a solo performance to the limits. A unique talent and a great choice by the organisers to kick off tonight's event.


Website: http://jemimasurrender.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JemimaSurrender?sk=wall&filter=3


Annette Berlin

Annette Berlin

Next up on the bill is Annette Berlin, featuring Annete on guitar and microphone and Keith on drums, and providing the first full-on rock-out of the evening. Featuring crunchy, grungey riffs, descending chord progressions, some nice bouncy rhythms, a strong vocal delivery that demands attention and unashamed basking in the glory of the quiet-loud-quiet-loud song structure, Annette Berlin had heads banging from the first note. Reminding me of early Love is All but without the image (a good thing in my book) and Rid of Me-era PJ Harvey, with grinding guitar riffage reminscent of Alice in Chains' Dirt album, from the front to the back of the crowd this set managed to get just about everyone moving approvingly. More from them in the future - please!

Website: http://annetteberlin.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Annette-Berlin/42788206965

The Hysterical Injury

The Hysterical Injury

A second two-piece, and possibly the best band to have ever graced the stage of the Green Park Tavern, this band had me running to the back, finding friends, shouting "this is brilliant!" and dragging them down to the front. Let me explain. This is surely the coming of the bass guitar as a lead instrument used to its fullest extent. There's no 6-string mcguffery going on in this drum/bass and voice act, and I swear I'll never look at a sub-standard bass-player in the same way again. Poppy, yet etheral vocals entrance, at the same time exuding the very essence of punk rock, and the beats force even the most reluctant body to rock out. Annie sings and looks like a woman enraptured and possessed by some awesomely freaky and powerful feminine force of nature, and I'm going to quit writing and start head-banging. They had better not play round these parts too often or this blog will turn into an unofficial fan page, and that's a promise. See this band!

Website: http://hystericalinjury.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehystericalinjury

Thought Forms

Thought Forms

The most important task of the organisers of an event like this is to ensure that the final act does not disappoint - and they knew what they were doing when they booked the excellent Thought Forms. Ambient stoner-rock incorporating Earth-esque trip outs and indie guitar freak-outs with sparse primitive and tender male and beautiful female vocals buried amonst the sonic soundscapes with few, if any, audible lyrics had all the members of the previous bands down the front rocking out to this three-piece - the perfect ending to a fantastic night in support of an inspiring punk band.

Website: http://www.thought-forms.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thought-Forms/6171829460


A great night out, and one of the most exciting musical events in Bath for some time. Pussy Riot would surely have been dancing down the front, balaclavad and rocking out with the rest of us. In fact...

Pussy Riot, Bath