Lambrini Girls | Northcote Theatre | Melbourne | 22nd February
Ever since discovering Lambrini Girls, I knew I had to see them live. Their music is chaotic, daring, furiously sincere, unforgivingly outspoken, and everything they do screams personality; from their stylish, grungy music videos, to their loud album art, to their no-holds barred lyrics. Lambrini Girls are everything I could possibly want out of a punk band, and I’m thrilled to say that their debut, headline shows in Australia, not only lived up to, but far exceeded my boldest hopes.
On Sunday night, Northcote Theatre was the place to be. In a line wrapping around the side of the building, a sold-out audience stood undeterred by the rain. There was a distinct buzz running throughout the line. I got the impression early on that this was no ordinary show, everyone there had invested themselves whole-heartedly in this band.
Once inside, it wasn’t long before the only support act, BIG WETT, took the stage. I must admit that I hadn’t heard of BIG WETT before that night, but her performance was so flashy I don’t think I’ll soon forget it. For half an hour, she transformed Northcote Theatre into a nightclub with her catchy, electronic dance music and non-stop energy. The whole time, she exuded superstar status. She moved with the confidence of someone made for a big stage and, by the end, there wasn’t a single person not dancing or cheering her on.
After a short break, it was time for the headliner, Lambrini Girls. The whole room was screaming with excitement before the lights even came up. Their entrance was loud, starting with Bad Apple, the first track off their newest album Who Let the Dogs Out. Barely after finishing their first song, singer and guitarist, Pheobe Lunny declared “No more baby shit” before going straight into Company Culture, amping up the intensity. This breakneck pace continued throughout the night. Song after song, fan-favourite God’s Country led into deep cut Mr Lovebomb led into personal favourite You’re Not From Around Here. All of it sounded just as punchy as I’d hoped, with all of the crudeness of DIY, garage punk, but none of the amateurism. I loved the raw vocals that felt emotional without feeling performative, the deep bass for layers of texture, the crack of the snare and the audacity of the kick, and the guitar providing such critical volume. My only fear this early on was that the crowd and the band had front-loaded their energy, but they quickly proved me wrong.
Throughout their whole set, Pheobe Lunny and, bassist and backing singer, Selin Maciera Boşgelmez, threw themselves at the audience (at times, literally). There was no ounce of energy spared in making this the most exciting show possible. The band crowd-surfed, put audience members on the mic, and created the biggest mosh pit I’ve seen at Northcote Theatre. Their stage presence was second to none. But it would be impossible to talk about their stage presence without mentioning their loudest parts; the passion that fuels their music. I have always found Lambrini Girls are equal parts call to action and release of tension, and this show only confirmed that. Cut in-between songs, Pheobe Lunny encouraged political action, yelled “Are you fucking angry at your government?” encouraged the chant “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land,” embraced queer culture and called the United Kingdom “the worst country in the world to ever exist,” and Selin Maciera-Boşgelmez attacked the issue of sexual assault in the music scene. At one point, Phoebe Lunny said, “Take a deep breath, think about something that makes you really angry, and then go
AAAHHH!” and I watched as the crowd screamed alongside her. Stellar performance aside, I think it was this moment from the show that stood out to me the most. It was a demonstration of everything Lambrini Girls stands for; a celebration of people, united by fury for their abusers.
More than any other international band I’ve seen, Lambrini Girls carry with them a real sense of community. No one in the Northcote Theatre half-assed their Sunday night, not the band, not the audience, and I left the show feeling way more connected to the music than I had felt going in. I cannot wait to see them again.
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