Rock Against Violence has for 12 years now been raising money for Solace Women’s Aid’s support of survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Previous headliners at this annual event at Hackney’s Oslo venue have included Desperate Journalist in 2022 and ARXX in 2021. This year, bill topping duties fell to The Menstrual Cramps with a strong support from the ever-excellent Ghost Car and newcomer Tara ‘Tash’ Noble.
An imposing presence and a powerful voice are good weapons to have in your arsenal when you are aiming to make a name for yourself, and Tash has both.
Apart from a show at the local village fair in drummer Laura’s Oxfordshire hometown during the summer, this was Ghost Car’s first gig in more than six months. It was a terrific return to action for a group that never disappoints. The band’s set mostly centered around their excellent 2022 “Truly Trash” album – a ‘must buy’ if you don’t yet have – but they did debut one new number on the theme of harassment with a thunderous groove that will surely become a key component of the set, alongside proven favourites such as ‘Selfish, Spoiled’, ‘Woman In The Shadows’ and the ever popular ‘Sushi Addict’. If you have never seen them before, go expecting the missing link between The B-52s and Shonen Knife and you won’t be disappointed.
A raffle followed, before eloquent spokesperson Judy Kawaguchi came forward to explain the rationale behind her company eCubed, and to stress the importance of everything else they strive to do ‘Against Violence’ in addition to ‘Rocking’. It’s a measure of Judy’s own personal magnetism that very few people used the opportunity of a break in the music to visit the bathroom or the bar, and that’s only right and proper as we were all there to lend our support to this most worth of causes, as well as enjoy some top flight musical entertainment.
Newly signed to Alcopop Records and with a new single ‘Body Politics’ to go with their signing, it was left to former LOUD WOMEN Hercury Prize winners The Menstrual Cramps to close out the night in with their usual full-on ferocity and forthrightness.
There are no half measures with this band, and vocalist Emilia’s words always carry a message worth hearing over the maelstrom of noise provided by their bandmates. TMC have released two albums since coming on the scene: 2017’s “We’re Not Ovaryacting” and “Free Bleedin’ the following year. They have honed the songs from those albums to perfection in the live environment and still play them like their lives (and ours) depended on doing so.
During the course of their half hour on stage Emilia advised us not to support the likes of McDonalds (‘Boycott The Lot’), not to vote Conservative (‘Cull The Tories’), not to buy or listen to records by Iggy Pop, David Bowie and others whose past transgressions mark them down as sexual abusers in ‘Idols’. There were songs about abortion, rape, and taking pride in self-gratification; songs speaking out against nazi punks; and, in possibly TMC’s most commercial song ‘This Isn’t What You Expected’ against neanderthal marital/relationship preconceptions. At the start of the latter, Emilia jumped down from the Oslo stage to sing an impromptu duet with former bandmate and still loyal TC fan Beth White, who happened to be standing right at the front. A touching moment!
The whole thing went by far too quickly; suddenly the last notes of ‘Idols’ died away and the band took their bows before exiting stage left, after one of the most exhilarating half hours anyone could ever wish to witness. TMC have worked relentlessly this year, covering more ground and doing more gigs than ever before. With a great indie record label in their corner now, they are probably ready to ease away from playing smaller gigs and move up to the next level (although they will doubtless always be ready so support worthy causes, such as RAV).
So, another triumphant musical evening has hopefully raised a decent amount of dosh for a most worthy cause. If you didn’t make it, you missed a lot. And if you didn’t make it, it’s never too late to donate to Solace!