Brits Week 26, For War Child: Lambrini Girls
The Garage, London
★★★★☆

One-off shows at intimate venues, the BRITs Week for War Child is back and London’s Garage hosted Lambrini Girls for an explosive event chock full of commentary, diatribes, punk rock riffs, some pontification and a whole lot of fun.

Tracks like Bad Apple and Help Me I’m Gay are a mix of loud guitar, fervent drumming and Phoebe Lunny’s vocals which fire a message straight at you with no holds barred. The mosh pit goes into automatic overdrive even if the sound is a bit muffled to start.

There are shades of the excellent Amyl and the Sniffers, combined with a bit of Sleaford Mods, but this is also very much the band’s music and as the gig continues, its message.

God’s Country is a good example, there are diatribes against Reform as well as most mainstream politicians, anyone in the Epstein Files and even anyone in the audience that is not making the place a safe space.

It’s all the more apt as they’d received government funding to support touring, but don’t hold back from airing their anger and outrage at all that is wrong with modern Britain and society.

That doesn’t mean the night is dull and worthy, far from it.

It’s a fast and furious take on current times but with fun thrown in. At one stage there’s a vote on whether to form a superlong conga line, human pyramid or massive moshpit – the moshpit wins out.

Lunny also takes regular dives into the audience, crowd surfing during one song, commanding the room and keeping all in awe. Selin Maciera-Bosgelmez ensures the bass booms out, while drummer Misha Phillips adds a strong and visceral beat.

The lyrics leave no hold barred, with choice language and a stark message, but it’s not preachy, rather bringing the audience with them and increasingly getting them directly involved whether in a mass sit down or call for change.

How long the anger lasts, and the music develops only time will tell, but by the end of the night as key track Big Dick Energy rings out, Lambrini Girls are still challenging those in power, those who pretend and those that don’t defend or call out when they should.

The night ends with a chorus of “Free, Free Palestine” and the news they’ve raised £37,000 for War Child. On the face of it they’re definitely worth raising a glass or two of Lambrini to.

Brits Week 26 War Child runs until February 27, various venues. For details see: britsweekwarchild.co.uk 

Lambrini girls are on tour with UK dates. For more information see: lambrinigirlsband.co.uk