Freaks to the Front! Amyl and the Sniffers in London: live review

Sticky beer infused floors, the stench of sweat, some of the coolest haircuts you’ve ever seen, and maybe a nip slip or two from possibly this very writer. Just some of the scenes at Amyl and The Sniffers, playing the Roundhouse last Thursday night.

Amyl and The Sniffers provide everything you want out of a punk show: no frills, just great music, enthusiastic crowd, and an energetic band.

Amy Taylor’s stage performance gives a masterclass in having fun. Between the jumping around, head-banging, killer outfit, and her strong booming voice, she’s got your attention. After the show I overheard people discussing her stage presence in awe. She effortlessly handles herself through her more upbeat yellers, to the slow anthem that is ‘Big Dreams’.

If I may jump back to the outfit for a second, bright green leopard print matching gloves, undies, and bra, with bright red tights, and a black corset? I mean, my jaw dropped. And I gotta know where those panties are from because, like Amy sings, “I just wanna wear my bikini”.

Although she effortlessly holds your attention, the main focus seems to be on the crowd. And more specifically, on the moshers. There are no crazy eye-catching videos being projected, just close ups of the band and videos of the crowd. It’s clear they’re less focused on themselves and more focused on the fans. Even my commemorative Amyl and The Sniffers tea towel features drawings of the fans moshing. It feels as if they’re really bringing the “freaks to the front”.

This is also the reason I can’t give you too much details on what was going on on-stage. Because I was well, moshing. But I can talk about the pit, and the crowd. This was the crowd you dream of being in. No matter where you were people were moving (even in the back to get my much needed water), and the pit was fun without having to fear for my life. And not meaning to sound much older than I am, but there were hardly any phones. It just wasn’t that kind of show.

On top of sounding aged I’m now going to sound like the theater school drop-out I am to say, it’s a show you see and experience with your body. Whether that be bopping, slamming, or jumping.

Going to a femme-fronted punk show is inherently political, but due to some recent political decisions *cough cough* Trump, it felt more charged than usual. Well at least it did for me, a young queer American girl grappling with the fact her country couldn’t care less if she has rights or not. While this wasn’t particularly a show where the lead singer could stop and chat for a minute Amy made sure to yell something along the lines of,

Screaming lyrics like, “Me and the girls want free abortions,” and looking around to see myself moshing with the girls, the gays, the theys, and everyone in between, I found myself tearing up.

This show felt like an emotional release to a lot of pent up sadness and anger regarding the political state of the world. Which I feel like a good concert will do: let you feel. And Amyl and The Sniffers really showcases feeling in their music.

I left feeling charged (and covered in beer), hopping to a pub to rant to my partner about politics and how it’s been affecting me, the people I know, and the world. Well isn’t that what punks all about? Community, politics, and a good old fashioned mosh.