Music / post punk
Review: Shame, SWX
If 2018 has been the year for any one band then Shame are surely at the forefront of the list. At the start of the year, the quintet played Rough Trade Bristol’s second-ever show on the day of their debut album launch. Standing out from a packed crowd of ‘rock stars’ and standing firmly against them, Songs of Praise is a tightly coiled spring of cutting societal observations and wit dripping with venom, seemingly on the cusp of an imminent explosion – and it’s one of the most essential albums of the year.
Fast forward several months down the line and Shame haven’t stopped for a moment since. Embarking onto a tour that’s still ongoing – and has conquered most of the globe – they’ve returned to Bristol twice, each time flexing their draw and working their way up the venues. Two days before their show at SWX, Rough Trade awarded them album of the year – and from their blistering performance, they should be crowned live act of the year as well.
Bursting onto the stage in a frenzied haze of anger, passion, and mayhem it’s singer, Charlie Steen that guides the crowd through the chaos – placing the pedal on the floor and leaving it there until the very end. Dust on Trial is fast-paced, snarling and furious, One Rizla becomes a poppy sing-a-long and Angie is a twisting, anthemic epic. Even with the band’s hectic schedule, they’ve found writing time and scattered in the set are two new gems that slot in indelibly, with Exhaler standing firmly out.
is needed now More than ever
It’s become a staple of the socially conscious band to educate their audience on the purpose of live music and Charlie makes no exception here – ‘This is entertainment, we are entertainers. Look around you and make sure that everyone is having a good time.’ – Spoiler, they are. Leaving the audience with the echoes of Gold Hole and Donk still ringing, the band seem truly unstoppable.
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