Review: PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS, SWX – ‘They command the crowd’

Pigs x7 are a band I’ve been meaning to see for years. A band that have received only good feedback from numerous friends of mine.

With my friend Jacob summing it up nicely “ you have to see them, they will melt your mind” so this gig felt like necessity and was eagerly anticipated, especially on my 5 hour train journey from Penzance!

I just made it! Were shown to our spot stage left and who the first person we see? BIG JEFF! He’s there to see first support act Genn.

I could see instantly why Jeff was here early to see them. Singer Leona Farrugia is a star. Her vocal range is sublime, she’s a real performer as are the rest of the band.

The band and fully engrossed in what the are doing and look like they are loving it. They perform like the headliners they should be.  They are funky, loud, heavy and lyrically direct.

If you turned up late you really missed a treat. I’ll be going to see them at Crofters Rights on March 5 and getting their debut self-released album  unum  next week.

Next up were Bonnacons of Doom. What a perfect band to have on before Pigs x7. It’s no surprise that singer Kate Smith joins them on stage and nails it later in the evening, like she could be in Pigs x7.

They take to the stage with circular mirrored faces to rapturous applause and a full SWX. They play mesmeric theatrical cape wielding grooves which have me head banging slowly before long, along with a captivated crowd.

Kate’s voice hits heights I’ve rarely heard. If you were at the bar getting a drink, you should turn round and get straight to the front and watch this. Another band to look out for.

Next up it’s PIGS! The volume is up a notch and the anticipation as ACDC’s ‘For those about to rock we salute you’ blasts out and people reach for their ear protectors.

The crowd are at fever pitch.  I start fairly far away by my standards but am itching to get forward and join the masses. It doesn’t take long before the first crowd surfer comes flashing over my head as I’ve inevitably moved right to the front.

Singer Matt Baty takes to the stage looking like Freddy Mercury if he forgot his PE kit in the 1980’s. He commands the crowd and the crowd jump and shout to his every command.

I heard they were Stoner Rock? It sounded more like punk rock to me and the person wearing a Dead Kennedy’s T-shirt next to me was moshing like they were on stage.

GNT is everything you want from Pigs and more it crunches as the crowd punches and squeals like the guitars are being mangled. I challenge you not to want to march along to this song.

I don’t know why they are called PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGSPIGS but it’s the best name ever as singer Matt informs us of some facts about Bristol.

My eyes are sweating, my ears ringing and I feel light headed by the end of this one, exactly what I wanted from this gig.

The band may well only be holograms beamed into Bristol for one night, but they are best holograms I will ever see.

‘Encores are for bullshitters’ are the last words said.

Main photo: Matt Barnes

Read next:

• Review: The Hoosiers, Thekla – ‘They know how to put on a show’
• Review: Miranda Sex Garden, The Fleece – ‘It is thunderous mayhem’
• Review: Anna Erhard, The Louisiana – ‘Addictive, infectious indie pop’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: