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Review: Martha, Strange Brew – ‘Heartwarming nostalgia, bouncealong hits’
It’s a pindrop room full of expectant faces illuminated by Strange Brew’s glowing overhead ring light and neon décor.
Hamburger take it in their stride, or at least have a suitably awkward line of banter down which the audience seems to enjoy – luckily, as they’re hanging on the band’s every word.
“Thanks for coming down – Thursday is normally premium Settlers of Qatan night or something, isn’t it?” says vocalist Fearghall, to knowing laughs from the room.
is needed now More than ever
It’s an intimidating set up for an opening act, though the audience is friendly and attentive in typical DIY punk style. Luckily Hamburger have the tunes and presence to breathe abit of life into the space, and the crowd is soon happily bopping along.
Fearghall’s distinctive vocals add something extra to the band’s breezy indie sound – photo: Simon Alexander
Fearghall’s distinctive falsetto vocals, reminiscent of Grandaddy or Flaming Lips, rise above the sextet’s jangly guitars, catchy hooks and upbeat energy from the beaming korg player.
Closer Supersad could be the soundtrack to an early 2000s indie film – think Juno or Napoleon Dynamite. It’s a melancholy refrain – “I’m so fucking miserable, I can’t do anything” – but delivered with such delighted bounciness it has us smiling. And korg proves she can, actually, do one (other) thing – play the tambourine.
The band have been around on the local scene for at least five years, and it’s easy to see them up there on bigger stages. In the meantime, there’s new music to come: “It’s hard to do that!” says Fearghall. Indeed it is. Kudos, Hamburger.
Watch out for Hamburger on indie lineups around the city – photo: Simon Alexander
It’s a surprisingly good start for an evening which drew us out, first and foremost, to see Durham pop-punk royalty Martha. Though they formed nearly 15 years ago – presumably as teenagers – and have released four albums in that time as well as touring relentlessly, it’s our first time seeing them live.
But we bump into punk promoter Fishlock who says he’s seen them “20 – no, maybe more like ten” times before and, “I’ve never seen them do a bad gig”. Bodes well.
Tour support, Glasgow’s Former Champ, substitute craic for cool with a slick show delivered in boxfresh trainers, white socks and sportswear.
It’s their first time here; perhaps there’s something lost in translation or maybe Bristol is used to a more laidback, wonky dynamic. They rock hard enough, but we’re ready for the main act before they’re through.
Former Champ: too emo? – photo: Simon Alexander
From the minute they hit the stage accompanied by bombastic walk-on music, Martha are everything we hoped.
They kick off with Beat, Perpetual from 2022’s Please Don’t Take Me Back. It’s rifftastic with a catchy chorus, which guitarist Daniel manages to hit without missing a beat despite breaking a string almost immediately after picking up his instrument.
They romp through a solid clutch of singalong hits with great style and good humour, and there are plenty of mega fans here – including a significantly older demographic dancing along with the fresh-to-the-scene Gen Z’ers which is lovely to see – belting out all the words.
Martha fans were out in full force – photo: Ursula Billington
It’s an amazing feat for a band to feel so utterly fresh while remaining an undeniable throwback. The songs are sung in the voice of everyone’s inner teenager, but played with abandon and honesty.
It’s like they’ve studied how to nail old school pop-punk, or emerged after a decade in a time capsule to smash it.
Songs about detention and GCSE’s are played with the honed skill a decade in a band provides, offering up a cathartic experience to the room: we can relax and enjoy being back watching our school’s best band, drinking cokes and dancing awkwardly.
Martha: at ease and self-deprecating with riffs, hooks and harmonies – photo: Ursula Billington
Martha are nothing if not self-aware. They namecheck 2014’s debut Courting Strong, and laughingly welcome the crowd’s cheers as “we’ll be playing about six songs from that record tonight”.
They remark on the irony of playing a stack of old material while releasing an album in 2022 about not romanticising the past. They recognise themes might seem passe now they’re that bit older.
“It’s funny singing a six-minute song about getting pissed on Palace Green,” says drummer Nathan, referring to naughty teenage antics outside the cathedral in Durham, the city closest to their home village of Pity Me; “But… It was fun…”
Which pretty much sums it up. A little casual reminiscence has its place. Why not stay connected to those old stories, the realities of growing up, and solid friendships that start with drunken falling about and blossom into DIY stardom? Why not indulge in a little wistful nostalgia?
At the end of it all, pop-punk remains, and it’s still packing out rooms and getting people – young and old, fans new and established – moving.
A decade after they produced their debut album, the band are going strong – photo: Ursula Billington
Martha are as right on as the scene would expect: queer, vegan, sharing vocal responsibility between them – all impeccable, with spot-on harmonies for the genre – and fundraising for Palestine Action and anti-fascist investigators Red Flare.
They end with an unprecedented but welcome four song encore, telling us jokingly, “Music is a distraction from the horrors of existence – assuming you all find existence horrible…?”
Maybe at times. But tonight we’ve been distracted in the best possible way. Job done, Martha can continue on their way knowing they’ve made some new loyal fans tonight.
We’ll be back to see them again maybe 20, or at least ten more times over the next decade, and we’ll happily bounce along to songs of exam stress and teen excess with just as much abandon.
Check out what’s coming up at Strange Brew at www.strangebrewbristol.com
Find out what’s next from Deadpunk Productions at deadpunkpromotions.seetickets.com/promoter/dead-punk-promotions/6054
Main image: Ursula Billington
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