Words and photos: Andrea Naess

What better way to mark this year’s International Women’s Day than high energy, ponytails and badass lyricism from PUSSYLIQUOR, legendary punk Gina Birch and cosmic newcomer mui zyu

We arrive a little later than planned (thanks, TFL), and straight to the middle of second act mui zyu‘s set where we get a glimpse of her. The British Hong Kong artist (real name Eva Liu) blends genres with surrealistic strings, tape-mangled drum machines and traditional Chinese instruments. Her use of sugary pop vocals paired with existential, dark beats gives shivers down our spine as my mind wanders to sonic landscapes. She masters something rare, and I realize this is an artist I need to look further into. 

There’s a brief break where we can get beers, and now I really get a chance to admire the venue. Vinyl records surround us as the venue is also a record shop and the combo of drinking beer and looking through EPs with dimmed red lighting creates a relaxed atmosphere. We hear punk kittens PUSSYLIQUOR readying for their set in the background. After a few “test, tests” and bass adjustments, the 4-piece are ready to give their all. 

Opener ‘Good for a Girl’ hits us right in the feels. The song is about somebody telling you that you are good for being a girl. As if there is an extra handicap for being a girl, something I think all of us can relate to and have heard some time in our lives. It’s raw, fast-paced and sets the tone for the night.  

PUSSYLIQUOR has that classic punk sound, reminiscent of The Ramones blended with more modern acts like Danish rockers Gorilla Angreb. In the middle of the set, lead singer Ari Black drops her trousers and the band tells everyone how happy they are to be there; I notice how united they seem. You can tell they care for one another; they smile and hug and this sense of unity shines through in their music.

The welcoming and friendly atmosphere feels safe, and for the first time in my life, I experience a mosh pit dominated by women. People are holding hands and forming a ring. It reminds me that I really need to go to more female-focused band nights. Other standout tracks are ‘Kitty Kitty’, a song about catcalling. The combination of the hardcore punk guitar and bass, with the crowd yelling a high-pitched “miaow miaow” feels radically innovative. 

Elsewhere during their performance, guitar player Hannah Waterman shouts “Boycott Pret” and calls her work manager a “c*nt” in the microphone despite the fact he’s actually in the crowd! The contrast between this rough behaviour and playing a Hello Kitty guitar with her hair in pigtails awakens something in me. It reminds us that women can be feminine, dressed in pink while still playing loud punk and politically engaged at the same time. We don’t have to choose and PUSSYLIQUOR sets the perfect example of that.  

But the night’s not over yet. There is still one more legend on the agenda: Gina Birch. Birch is one-half of the The Raincoats, a post-punk band formed in 1977, and still active to this day. She is one of the original bands signed with Rough Trade and can be described as a true punk icon. 

Gina takes the stage accompanied by her band. Her first songs sound like a mix of dub and echo reggae. The crowd is nodding to the beat, but compared to the previous act this one has a slighter lower energy. During recent single ‘I Play My Bass Loud’ though, the energy increases again, and we are all intoned with the music and the feminist message. The song is about not hanging back and settling for the supporting role. A perfect ode to wrap up the evening.

Gina Birch’s I Play My Bass Loud is out now via Rough Trade. Join PUSSY LIQUOR for their EP launch at The Old Blue Last at the end of the month.