poppedmusic

Words & Photos: Gary Lambert

I say this as a straight, cis man, but there is nothing more supportive in music than a lesbian audience.  If you go to a gig which is going to have a large number of femme queers then get there early because the venue will be pretty much packed by the time the support acts come on.  There’s no piling into Wetherspoons or other cheap nearby pub for a nostalgic singalong when the next hot band are playing to a handful of people whilst claiming you’re into new music because you have bought the latest Noel Gallagher release. No, this is real support for a band by turning up, cheering them on avidly, and treating the opener as an important part of your night. I have seen it happen so many times and it is wonderful.  It makes me jealous of their music community.

ARXX were given the easy job of opening this short three-date UK run of MUNA which I was overjoyed about because “Ride or Die” has been one of my go-to albums this year, and I’ve followed ARXX for a few years.  The first time I saw them was in the back room of The Castle in Manchester, and to see a band progress from a space like that to holding 1,000+ people in the palm of their hand at someone else’s gig was beautiful.  If you’ve not seen ARXX and their brilliant eclectic rock, then you should change that.  Hannah and Clara are two of the most likeable people you’ll get to see take to the stage, and with songs like “Baby Uh Huh”, “Ride or Die“, and newly scribed “Crying in the Car” (a literal response to finding out they’d got this tour slot alongside their favourite band in the world), the music matches their personalities and pushes the joy higher.  You will watch ARXX and want to see them succeed and enjoy yourself as you give them support.  ARXX make you smile.

In all honesty, prior to this gig I didn’t give a damn about MUNA. I’d only turned up to watch ARXX.  I’d listened to their albums and thought it was very good music, but it wasn’t music I’d fallen in love with.  After experiencing a MUNA live show though I feel like I love this band and I would fight to defend them like Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson were my childhood football heroes.  What was so special about MUNA?  Well…

The first thing that hits you is the power and complexity of the MUNA live performance.  With the trio all taking responsibility for entertaining and engaging with the audience with their movement, constant movement, it is like watching a river flow as they swap positions on stage, dance with and around each other, and generally look inspired by the music they create. It’s beautiful and instantly lifts the entire show.  You know that this is a night of wild abandon. MUNA live feel dangerous and edgy, like they should be playing Download for people dangerous and edgy.

You probably think that I’m taking the piss with linking MUNA and the country’s foremost metal festival.  I’ll say a big fat NOPE to that. I am 100% serious. I spend most of my musical time these days watching bands on the alternative scene, and I assure you the sheer force of MUNA would stand up to the vast majority gigging at present.  Even the most gentle and intimate pop moments in the set felt like the chance for you to get your breath back before the giant surfer wave of the band kicked back in.

Now I know there will be a lot of people who are fans of MUNA because they feel a tight connection to the lyrics, and they’re going to be sorely disappointed that I have no clue what MUNA were singing.  It wasn’t because of a lack of clarity, no way.  Rather there was just too much happening for me to think about lyricism, instead, I took the vocals of the band as another beautiful instrument adding sonically to the storm elevating the fury and musicality to even greater heights.

The musicality of MUNA has had me thinking ever since their set finished.  What made it so special?  Why did I feel so at home in the sound of MUNA?  Simply they have so many inspirations within their sound, but none so dominant that it links them to a specific genre or era.  They come across as a band grown up through the generation where music comes from playlists and every record in history is pretty much at your fingertips. There are hints of Alanis, Avril, Bjork, Wilson Philips, Van Halen, Missy Elliot, EDM, hip hop, jazz… But rather than “here is our x song”, these influences combine like flavours poured into a cocktail fuse together to lift themselves to new heights. It’s beautiful.

What a band! What bands in fact. What a night!!!