Milk Teeth @ The Joiners 14/05/2016

You know you've struck a chord with a fanbase when the entire venue jumps up and down as one.
"This is fucking mad" mouths Milk Teeth drummer Oli Holbrook as he and his band round off 
their UK tour at Southampton's Joiners Arms. 

Everything that could have gone right for Milk Teeth on the night did. Everyone crammed into the sweat-box that is otherwise known as The Joiners was up for it. Nobody more so than Milk Teeth themselves who announce their intentions early on. "Let's have a good one tonight Southampton" demands vocalist Becky Blomfield and the night does not disappoint. Throughout the set, fans of the band hurl themselves on and off the stage from opener 'Brain Food' all the way through to 'Vitamins'.

About half way through the set, the members all look at each other seemingly in disbelief at what they have just witnessed. 'Swear Jar' had just left the misty air of The Joiners and Milk Teeth are in complete awe of the crowd who had just bellowed every single word straight back to the four-piece. It is at this moment that Oli mouths "This is fucking mad" to guitarist Chris Webb who simply nods in agreement. It's a testament to how far Milk Teeth have come since 2013, headlining tours, playing big name festivals and growing a dedicated fan-base.

Having released Vile Child, their first full-length album at the tail end of 2015, Milk Teeth want to showcase it the only way they know how. By turning it up fucking loud. Guitarist Billy Hutton, who already looks like a rock star, adds wailing sounds and thrashing riffs and at the same time, he adds dreamy shoegaze like effects. Particularly on 'Swear Jar'. 'Kabuki' is met with stunned silence. The reason for this is as Becky explains is because "this is one of the most personal songs I have ever written," she spoke to the crowd directly before 'Kabuki' about encouraging people to open up about mental health issues having suffered from them herself. This was very commendable and brave of her to talk about this so openly herself.

The set ends with the frantic 'Vitamins' a song which every five seconds somebody either left, or joined the stage. The song itself is just as chaotic as the scenes surrounding the stage. But this was more than a performance. This was a group of early 20-something's making a statement. There is clear passion evident in this performance, they certainly left the foundations of The Joiners cracked,

8/10

Share this: