Clowns at The Star & Garter, Manchester - 4 May 2024
Clowns started playing dirty and fast punk rock in Melbourne (Australia) in 2009 and have released five studio albums since. The pandemic slowed them down for a bit, but in 2023 the band released their album ENDLESS, channelling the fact that, even when it feels like the world is falling apart, there’s still a yearning for immortality.
The band comprises lead vocalist Stevie Williams, drummer Jake Laderman, guitarists Jarrod Goon and Cameron Rust, and bassist Hanny J. However, the band posted a powerful and emotional post on Instagram, announcing that Hanny would not be a part of the Australian ENDLESS tour. As much as I enjoy her dynamic bass playing and powerful stage presence, her absence during this tour showcases the strong individual that she is. During this run, the bass was taken over by the strong and talented Shauna. The highlight of this is that, according to the band, she learnt the whole set in an hour!
A personal note to Hanny: Thanks for being so strong and involving your fans in your recovery/health. It is refreshing to see musicians open about the struggles that they face. As another woman/female presenting individual in the music industry, I cannot tell you how much I applaud you for this.
The night started with the Manchester-based punks Bruise Control. The boys showcased their usual energetic and chaotic stage performance, setting the tone for a night difficult to forget.
March followed. It is a band I was unfamiliar with, but I will definitely be adding it to my playlist. The Dutch punk band has been compared to Petrol Girls and delivers high-voltage “punked rock”. Fleur van Zuilen, their lead singer, has an excellent vocal range, which makes you excited to see what comes next. Even if Hermance Van Dijk (lead guitar) and Jeroen Meeus (bass) start dancing “La Macarena” in the middle of the show (as a Macarena… I am hurt), the whole band showed a tightness and performance quality that would be expected of bigger acts. I am looking forward to seeing them perform again.
Finally, Clowns got on stage, opening their set with ‘Formaldehyde’, the LP’s first single and new song since 2021. The clever lyrics are accompanied by 80s-inspired guitar riffs and very high-energy vocals. The set flew by, with the band mainly playing songs from their latest LP.
Before we knew it, the night had finished. It was almost 23:30, and everybody was leaving, dancing and steaming high energy.
You can catch Clowns + March live on the following dates:
Follow the bands:
- Clowns: Facebook | Bandcamp |Instagram | Youtube | Spotify
- March: Facebook |Instagram | Youtube | Spotify | Merch
- Bruise Control: Facebook | Bandcamp |Instagram | Youtube | Spotify | Merch