GIG REVIEW: The Lovely Eggs + Violet Malice + Loose Articles @ The Grove, Byker, Newcastle, Saturday 25 May 2024
The Lovely Eggs are a lo-fi psychedelic punk duo from Lancaster who are the epitome of underground music’s DIY ethos.
Married couple Holly Ross and David Blackwell aren’t a punk band in the traditional sense, but they’ve been releasing their own records, organising their own tours and selling their own merch since 2006. They’re so good at it that, unlike most in the scene, they don’t have day jobs.
The last few years have also seen them campaigning to save their local Music Co-Op, producing their own YouTube TV show and collaborating on a single with celebrity fan Iggy Pop – all while raising a young son.
So while they operate beneath most people’s radar, there’s a growing community of fellow outsiders who love what they do, and support them by attending their gigs and buying their music.
There’s maybe 300 or so of them here tonight, so The Grove is fairly full by the time they come on stage, full of good cheer – and probably beer – after spending the afternoon watching their football team Manchester United win the FA Cup, denying rivals Man City a double.
It also means local heroes Newcastle United won’t be playing in Europe next season, and this isn’t lost on the majority of the crowd when Holly mentions the match, provoking a chorus of boos.
“Oh fuck off! It’s been a shit season,” she retorts before launching into the next song. Football rivalries are quickly forgotten as this most engaging of duos show why they have built up such a devoted following.
Every night is party night in Eggland, where Holly handles guitar and vocals while David drums and provides backing vocals, keys and the occasional thump on a geet big gong.
The Lovely Eggs sing observational songs about life’s ups and downs, featuring sometimes surreal lyrics and the odd out-and-out punk rock banger.
Even some early technical difficulties with Holly’s mic at the start of album opener Death Grip Kids can’t throw them off their stride as they plough through an hour-long set of lo-fi indie-punk.
The Lovely Eggs have the knack of capturing the frustrations of modern life, and new album Eggistentialism is a fine example, as well as being possibly their most personal record yet.
Seven of its 10 tracks get an airing tonight, making up half the setlist, and sparse, stripped-down songs like Nothing/Everything and I Am Gaia are among the night’s highlights.
The Lovely Eggs don’t forget the oldies though; 2015 single Magic Onion, a few songs in, is a cast-iron crowd-pleaser, as is Still Second Rate, the only cut from their previous album, 2020’s indie chart-topper I Am Moron.
Things take a lively turn when they pull out another old favourite, Fuck It, which sums up The Lovely Eggs’ ethos when things go wrong, and the vibe continues for the last half a dozen songs of the night.
Wiggy Giggy, Don’t Look At Me (I Don’t Like It), I Don’t Fucking Know What I’m Gunna Do and Dickhead reduce the floor to a mass of moshing bodies, and by the time we reach the last song, Meeting Friends At Night, you just know more people have been converted into eggheads.
The Lovely Eggs don’t do encores, but no one here is complaining as Holly invites everyone to join them in the bar afterwards and have a drink. That’s because this was less of a gig and more a gathering of friends, even if they have just met. Check out The Lovely Eggs at their website HERE.
It was that sort of night, helped enormously by fine performances from two support acts. First up were Loose Articles, an all-female band from Manchester who play a brand of melodic post-punk that’s as fun as it is feisty.
Normally a four-piece, they’re a couple of members down tonight, so Sarah Statham (Esper Scout/Living Body/Fig By Four) deps on drums, and a blow-up doll they’ve called Blondie occupies the space normally filled by their keyboard player! But it makes little difference to a hugely enjoyable set.
Mixing radical politics with tales of boozy nights out, Loose Articles’ songs are full of repetition, defiance and female empowerment. Natalie, on vocals and bass, is the centre of attention with her bright yellow hair, and she’s clearly loving every minute of being on stage.
By her side, guitarist Erin throws out the riffs with aplomb, while Sarah keeps the beat at the back, and they’re joined on stage for one song by Mel from Newcastle queer punk trio Gaydar.
They only have half an hour in which to impress, but do that in spades with a set which mixes the post-punk chops of The Slits with the riot grrrl attitude of Bikini Kill.
Highlights include Are You A Welder, Unpaid Intern and I’d Rather have A Beer from forthcoming debut album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster (out on Alcopop! Records on 7 June), as well as closer Snake from their first EP, Orchid Lounge.
As party starters go, Loose Articles have done the job to a tee, and look in fine fettle as they prepare for two huge gigs with Foo Fighters at Old Trafford in Manchester next month. Check them out HERE.
They’re followed by a very different act indeed, spoken word performer Violet Malice, who delivers often hilarious, frequently filthy, occasionally dark but always thought-provoking poems in a drawling North West accent, John Cooper Clarke-style.
Some of the audience seem stunned into silence by the graphic X-rated content, and there are a few uneasy laughs, but there’s no doubting the power of her words. One piece based on real-life Tinder comments she’s received and another sparked by Prince Charles’ Tampongate scandal are the pick up the crop.
Her performances certainly aren’t for kids or anyone who’s easily offended, but Violet seemed to be doing a brisk trade in her poetry books at the merch stand after the gig. Check her out HERE.
