Written by Kempsey Grant.
Kick starting a new blog series called "My First..." featuring our first gigs.
Stick with us to see how you can get involved! ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
To set the scene, It's been a tough few years battling with the world in chaos whilst COVID-19 runs rampant, everyone is confused, scared, and frustrated their lives have been put on hold.
We carried hand sanitiser, wore rubber gloves and medical masks.
We stood 2-metres apart at a public place.
We Isolated and connected with family through screens and calls.
We stood at our doorways to clap for the NHS workers. (They deserve way MORE than a clap).
We had very little to do and we resorted to online shopping.
We watched small businesses collapse and the self-employed struggle.
We wept as many lost their jobs and their homes.
We felt useless and Lost Morale.
We grieved for those who lost their lives.
Image by SEQU0IA via RedBubble
However there was a light at the end of the tunnel, vaccines rolled out just as quickly as they were created and as the new ordinance of restrictions eased, we gently and cautiously returned some-what back to normality, most of us still like cautious deer out in the open "...Are we allowed to talk, are we allowed to meet, are we allowed to hug...?"
And then came the reintroduction of events and concerts!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
My phone pinged and lit up with a message from my bands group chat, I had been invited to go see Hot Milk at the Key Club Leeds on September 12th 2021. How nicely it had fallen into my lap after such a long time being locked up in my home, I immediately said yes! I had missed my friends and I missed the feeling of being in a venue getting sweaty and hyped and the simplicity of just being in the presence of live music.
I feel right at home at a gig or concert, surrounded by like-minded people. I like to take my time to take in the environment and see how we are just connected by music and see the pure happiness, ecstasy and most importantly hope in the eyes and faces of the people.
We aren't just fans. We are family.
But this was to be My First Pop-punk gig. I didn't know what to expect from my experience, I do admit, I did used to bully the pop-punk scene but this gig completely changed my perspective.
We aren't just fans. We are family.
I have a ritual when I plan on going to gigs and concerts and that is to completely absorb myself in the music of the artists, research as much as I can. I create hype lists in anticipation and count down the days until the night of the event. This time I wanted to kind of go all out for this, so to honour Hot Milk's colour and branding scheme, I spent hours in the Rocking out to the band on a repeated list whilst I stained the entire bathroom with purple hair dye. Fast forward to September 12th. My friends and I were armed with Skinny Jeans, Merch and McDonalds. We had been the first of the few to wait at the doors and upon entrance, we got lucky to get to spaces at the front of the stage. Delaire the Liar was the first up, I was so taken aback by how hardcore they are but also retaining a certain gentleness. They were a great opener to get the energy up in the room, aggressive and visceral. As a music student in University I look out for on-stage cues, and I am impressed by their overall performance, I can also applaud Vocalist Ffin Colley for their choice in dress, promoting that clothes have no gender as well as the fact that upon bursting their lip on the microphone, it made for great punk aesthetics and resilience. I loved the grit and dirt this band had to offer. Next was Doll Skin, I have very rarely experienced all girl bands, and I am once again taken aback, elated and my entire experience was pure bliss. I watched in absolute aw and appreciation of snappy riffs, energised bass and impressive solos. The singer completely made the audience feel at home and comfortable consistently engaging, the song " Eat Shit" really brought us all together when we repeated the lyrics back to her. Moreover, the band was entertaining as a whole, all of them weaving to have fun and interact with each other and I admired the lengths they went to, to put on a good show, including climbing up on cabs. This band was completely inspiring from beginning to end.
I loved the Grit and Dirt...
Finally, what we all had been waiting for, what we we hyped for, what we got squished and sweaty for- Hot Milk - They entered so dramatically bouncing immediately on stage, everyone, hands in the air screaming. Finally. Hot Milk's performance was electrifying and energised with whirling intrepid riffs, tense Synths and heroic vocals. My friends and I sang every word to every song. I kept looking back at them and their faces lit up with every moment. Notable moments were the fact we stood inches from them and my dear friend next to me got a kiss atop her head by vocalist Han, and soon after Han jumped into the crowd, performed intimate lines with fans before respectively being birthed out of the audience and pulled herself back upon the stage.
My experience had completely changed my mind about pop punk and left me walking away from this gig with songs in my head and wanting more from these artists. I immediately ordered a Hot Milk Shirt from their newly released "I Just Want To Know What Happens When I'm Dead" EP.
This experience has also reignited a loud force of inspiration that has not slept since that night and I am so thankful for my friends for sharing this experience with me and I continue to support and listen to these bands and I am currently exploring more within the pop-punk scene.
Comments