Words: Laura McCarthy. Pictures: Rhona Murphy.
It’s a Wednesday night (08/04/26) but Southampton punk fans are out in full force at The Joiners. They’ve all come for Millie Manders and the Shutup and no threat of work in the morning is going to stop them.
If you miss the support acts for this gig, you’ve messed up. The line up is well done, with different threads of punk or punk-inspired music weaving together. Often, I get what I am terming “punk fatigue” at certain gigs, where line ups mush together into a smoothie of shouting when too many of the bands sound exactly the same. I get it, I get it, I should be angry about EVERYTHING – but that loses its impact when nothing stands out as different. This is definitely not the case here.
First up is Blush Puppy and they’re just brilliant. This four piece merge genres like it’s easy, with elements of grunge, emo, rock, and whatever else they feel like throwing into the mix to great effect. Their unique sound is refreshing and invigorating. I am especially impressed to see that both guitarists and the bassist also sing, which is quite a rarity.
The vocals are strong too and they harmonise well. Each voice has an individual tone to it, with softer sounds and harsher screams contrasting powerfully. I can hear some of the elder punk complaining that they’re “not punk” but this is exactly what most of us are craving from a gig like this. For me, they’re a new discovery – the delightful pearl I cracked out of the clam and a real highlight of the evening. (Pssst – you should also know they have an EP out on April 10th!)
Next, we have Death Trails from Blackpool. As a Yorkshire-raised lass myself, I willingly put away my red versus white roses feud and fall instantly in love with them. They’re like if Soft Play (formerly known as Slaves) got the guitarist they so badly needed to elevate their music. They are definitely punk, with ska and grunge making an appearance too. I love their energy and the unique choices of song subjects: I had not heard an ode to the elephant Edison electrocuted in the 1900s until this evening. They put their own spin on the odd cover as well and it all makes the perfect recipe for a hyped up crowd.
Finally, of course, we have Millie Manders and the Shutup. By now, it’s absolutely packed in here and I am struggling to find a spot where I can see – for context, I am five foot tall. Yes, it is almost bursting at the seams and it is clear that a good number of people have flocked from the bar now to come and see what’s being served for the main course. The band are known for having a devoted fan base, which is clear from the general buzz of enthusiasm from the crowd when the room goes dark and silent.
If you’ve seen them before, you won’t be surprised to hear that the band is relentless throughout. Millie Manders is a stand out, as always, with her magnetic energy, humour, political outrage, and insane skills as a musician; her vocal range is glorious and I love it whenever she reaches for her saxophone. But it’s not all about Millie. Everyone is matching her energy, jumping about with guitars and leaping onto platforms so that they rise above the stage, messiah-like. I am glad these Shutups aren’t shutting up.
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