Words by Spring Wise. Photos by Jamie Wise.
Local heroes The Pill, neighbours from across a very expensive bit of water, inhabited every inch of Papillon on Monday night with a bigger confidence than I’ve seen from them before (and their performances are always filled with boisterous energy). Not surprising, given that they’ll be supporting Greenday in Luxembourg later in the year. I’d be feeling confident too!
I’m becoming a big Lottie and Lily fanboy, and every time I see them it feels like I’m getting on board something that’s going to be big. I hope I’m right, I’d love a bigger audience to experience their spiky sardonic playfulness.
I’d selfishly also like them to continue to play Southampton regularly though, at least partly because it’s the only place my boyfriend can decently wear his merch shirt, with “bimbo butthole tits” embroidered on the front, and I’d like my money’s worth.
So when the press call went out for Panic Shack, I nearly bit my editor’s hand off. I’d been obsessed with their track Gok Wan for a few months, I couldn’t wait to chaotically throw myself around to a sweaty live performance. I expected something fantastic.
Naturally, they did not disappoint. Famous for their energetic shows and having an excellent audience (no creeps allowed, safe space, don’t be a dick), I told everyone I knew to grab a ticket. And a lot of people grabbed tickets, so much so that the show was moved from The Joiners to the larger capacity of Papillon.
Every member of the band has a guitar, apart from drummer Nick (the bass was some kind of baroque glam metal behemoth, I’ve never seen anything like it) and together they create a cacophony of sartorial pugnaciousness, aural aggression, feminist discourse and quite a silly sense of humour. Their patter was charming, audience participation was raucous, and the new version of their 2020 track “I Don’t Really Like It” was brilliant.
They’ve got an album coming out on the 18th of July, and they’ve put together a zine to go with it. This is a proper punk band with a DIY ethos: their money is where their mouth is, you could say. No corporate punk bullshit here, I believe every word they sing/scream, and I’m excited to hear more and more.
I really rate Papillon as a music venue, and I always take a moment to look up at the semicircle of punters up above me in the gallery space. And I admit that I do get a kick out of outrageous music exploding across a converted church, it’s like a bonus naughty little frisson.
I’ll be first in line next time they come to town, you should come with me. We’ll go to the toilets two at a time.
- Catch The Pill when they headline The Joiners on October 1st.
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