By Phil Cooper
The Joiners. One of the legendary grass roots music venues on the south coast. It’s played host to a huge array of artists that have gone onto great things as well as those that want to capture the raw intimacy of a small, close-up crowd. Tonight, it’s the turn of Millie Manders & The Shutup, ably supported by Brighton-based Jøra The Fortuneteller and local four-piece, Everyone Lies.
There’s a healthy buzz as we move through to the stage, not much is known about the night’s openers, and everyone is keen to see what’s in store. The four-piece take the stage and wasting no time at all, they dive into their set. Rapid fire power chord riffs and a high energy rhythm section tie together to deliver a strong punk attack. More in common with the likes of Green Day and Blink 182 than the ska-based headliners, but that’s not a bad thing when carried off well and Everyone Lies certainly do that. Offering up uncomplicated chorus sections that allow for the crowd to get involved and sing-along as well as being memorable. The band announce that not only is this a home-town gig, but it’s also only their fifth gig. No wonder no one knew about them. Catchy and energetic, overall, a great opener for what is to come and certainly ones to catch as their popularity will surely grow.
Jøra The Fortuneteller hit the stage next and take the night in a slightly different direction. With a boundless energy, their stage personality is captivating. While Everyone Lies engaged the crowd with their comfortably accessible brand of energetic punk, Jøra… offer up an engaging multi layered sound that takes inspiration from many different angles. The result is sonically engrossing as the crowd are never quite sure what’s going to come next. A raucous cover of ‘Come Together’ gets the crowds vocal cords warmed up before they see out their set after a brief bit of amp trouble. By the end, they’ve definitely made new fans in Southampton, and it will certainly be interesting to see where the four-piece goes next.
The headliners begin to take the stage and Millie enters from stage left to a hearty welcome from the crowd. They launch straight into ‘Panic’ and the energy and passion of the band kicks in from the get-go and doesn’t let up for a moment for the remainder of the set. With the Joiners being a smaller venue, the attendees are invariably always fans of the headliners. Tonight, is no different, it’s clear that everyone is there solely for the ska-punk on offer and get involved as much as possible. Whenever the microphone is offered to the crowd no one is found wanting. Able to offer up all the lines in any given chorus and many doing their best to keep pace with the lung-busting vocal deliveries of Millie. As a front person she is thoroughly engaging, offering insight into tracks were needed, coming across as personable yet retaining the air of a professional musician at all times, even if the ukulele doesn’t always play ball. The rest of the band are evidently loving every minute of the gig Georgie on bass appears to have a Cheshire cat sized grin throughout and is clearly enjoying delivering the rumbling bass lines that anchor the catchy melodies. Guitarist James delivers the high-octane riffs and catchy melodies while offering backing vocals and drummer Alessandro provides the powerhouse which keeps the whole audience moving from start to finish.
It’s testament to a bands talent and song writing that they can hold a crowd’s attention from start to finish. That is exactly what Millie Manders & The Shutup have done. All eyes are front, no one is leaving to go the bar for fear of missing out on time listening to the joyous ska-punk that’s on offer. By the end, the whole venue is buzzing and while the band haven’t bothered with the on and off-stage encore enticing antics of others, there are plenty of calls for more as no one wants the night to end. Punchy, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable, do yourselves a favour and go see these guys while they’re still in the smaller venues, it won’t be long before they’re packing the bigger places.
- The tour continues at the Porland Arms in St Albans on Thursday (2 December), the O2 in Leicester on Friday (3 December) and the O2 2 Islington on Sunday (4 December).
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