Punk. What is punk? Is it just loud music? Nope.
Authenticity? yes! Activism? yes! Self-advocacy? yes! Being labelled as ‘difficult’? well apparently!
Think Grace Tame, Eileen Gu, Malala Yousafazi – women supporting women, smashing glass ceilings, expectations, and absolutely the patriarchy. Relentlessly. Tirelessly. One critical, loud message at a time. They are punks, role modelling a life well lived full of authenticity, activism, and self-advocacy.
Punk rock? Same glorious deal using music to tell the story. Joining the ranks of punk legends like Patti Smith, Blondie, Bikini Kill, The Slits are the nu class including Amy Taylor, Karen Dio, The Linda Lindas and the Lambrini Girls.
Lambrini Girls just wanna have fun(damental rights!)
Hailing from Brighton in the UK, the Lambrini Girls are Phoebe Lunny and Selin Macieira-Bosgelmez. Riot grrrl’s by trade, this is the next generation of grrl power and punk rock. Their message remains the same as the trailblazers before them. It has to – it remains unresolved. While the locations of illegal wars and occupations may have changed (or not!) the set was punctuated with real talk. Chants like ‘Free Palestine!’, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land!’ followed by stats on sexual assault in the industry. They not only make great heart felt points but also leave you wondering how they can connect on these topics while those we elected into power, can’t. Straight talk, cut the bull, right to the heart of the matter.
Some punkin’ fun
Along with activism, as the Lambrini beverage slogan goes ‘Lambrini Girls just wanna have fun!’ And fun was what they brought to the packed Metro Theatre. The crowd always played an important part of the set. Sometimes it was a simple check in, “if you don’t feel safe, let us know, we will punch him in the d**k!”. Other times it was signaling to the crowd to form a circle pit or wall of death. The best time was to support Lunny as she climbed a wall, launching herself back onto awaiting hands that crowd surfed her back to the stage. Yes, everyone held their breath during that one!
Making the point that meditation is ‘stoopid’ there was also a moment for the crowd to scream out the day together. No doubt this also warmed up their vocal cords to sing along to material from debut album Who Let the Dogs Out. Highlights included “Mr Lovebomb”, “Help Me I’m Gay”, “No Homo”! Super highlights were certainly “Craig David” where everyone BUT CIS, white men were invited to mosh and “Cuntology 101” when BIG WETT and Drag Race’s Bimini returned to the stage for a full-on, self-love dance party.
In a nutshell, if you like your music with a message and like to dance and scream away the day – these are the punks for you.
Check your coat and inhibitions at the door!
Supporting the evening was Melbourne’s bad ass, BIG WETT who destroyed any sensitivities and inhibitions in the room in about 30 seconds. Teeny bikinis, big beats and zero fu#ks was the name of the game as the audience were treated to a set full of sexuality, feminism and some top-notch helicopter dancing. Yes, BIG WETT has props and she isn’t afraid to use them, wielding both strap-on and double-ended dildo like an expert. Amen to that!
Opening with “She Got That Thing” and “Number 1 Pussy”, you see where this is going! Feeling at times like a triple x rated version of ‘A Little Bit Alexis’ meets Hustlers, it’s important to note the set always felt fun and empowering, not exploitative. Closing with “Eat My Ass”, the uninitiated were still looking a little stunned while those in the know were chanting “A$$ eater, bottom feeder…”
There are just two more nights on the Lambrini Girls Australia Tour. Catch them if you can Saturday 28/02 at The Rechabite, Perth and Sunday 01/03 at Port Noarlunga Football Club, SA.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Images from Pete Dovgan – you can see more images from the night HERE
