Sean Choon and the Prawn Monsoon
As the name might suggest, Sean Choon and the Prawn Monsoon’s music is… unique to say the least. I can only describe their set as strange, funky, jazzy perfection. I had never heard of Mr Choon before, but I was pleasantly surprised. Being a good drummer requires a lot of precision and stamina, so I was stunned when I realised he was also the singer.
After his performance, I learned he also plays drums for Lacuna, another local band with a very dissimilar sound. The identity he’s been able to make for himself is nothing short of extraordinary and his musical range is impeccable.
With only three songs out on Spotify at the time of writing, I’m extremely intrigued to see what comes next for Sean Choon and his three merry bandmates.
San Jose
San Jose bestowed the crowd with a masterclass in post-punk perfection. The boys were as mental as usual, which meant one thing for sure, this was going to be one hell of a performance. Sadly, Charlie couldn’t play, so we were blessed with Ross Neil Reid from The Sankaras on guitar instead.
In terms of superb frontmen, Calum is definitely a front-runner. You don’t expect the singer of the band you’ve went to see to be crowd-surfing shirtless and with no shoes on, yet Calum was. The audience became immersed within the performance when Calum and Cean, another guitarist, played some of their set whilst sitting on the floor with the crowd standing around them. Due to all their crazed antics, they were forced to play their last song ‘Dirty Linen’ at 2x speed to make sure they didn’t go over their set time.
Martha May and the Mondays
I’ve followed Martha May and The Mondays from the beginning, and it’s been a pleasure to watch them develop their sound and stage persona. They have a unique take on the post punk genre, with a violin being used in nearly every song. Watching this band grow from a solo project for Martha into a fine-tuned, fully-fledged band has been exciting to watch. Their eclectic use of instruments added an element of surprise to the night and with each song, the crowd grew as more and more people became interested in seeing what they were already hearing. They even got Maddie, the frontwoman from SISTER MADDS, up for a little singsong together. I think Martha’s sequined outfit also needs a little mention, as it added even more sparkle to their dazzling performance.
PVC
PVC‘s music is affectionately described as “post-punk/alt-rock music for window cleaners” by Gigs In Scotland, and I can’t agree more. They seem to transcend genres and demographics as their music truly is for everyone. I like to refer to their songs as a ‘very pleasant mixtures of noise’, as that’s what they are to me. They cleverly go between calm but poignant spoken word into punk-rock drumbeats at the drop of a hat.
I had never seen PVC before, but after their set they were immediately added to my playlists. Their messages are very clear in their songs; be accepting, or go away. Obviously, they go into more depth within their sound, but that’s the gist of it. Their stage presence throughout was electrifying and you could just tell that they were really enjoying themselves on that stage. For me, this was a highlight of the evening.
Straid
We were then treated to a set by the well renowned 4-piece indie punk band, STRAiD. As time went on, their songs got punkier, and by the end of their set you could tell how much they have refined their sound. Their anthemic tunes really do deserve more recognition and respect, as the streaming figures don’t match up to the effort and love they’ve clearly put into their work. The band’s high energy really got the crowd going as they played some of their fan-favourites sporadically throughout their set. Their display of musical genius gave me my second wind for the night and excitement really settled in for the next two acts.
Soapbox
I’ve seen Soapbox a few times, so I knew what to expect, but somehow this was even more chaotic than usual. The energy and passion in the room was contagious as everyone got involved with the set. From jumping into the crowd, to getting fans onto the stage to sing their little hearts out, Soapbox’s set had everything you could ever want.
The four Glaswegians played fan favourite after fan favourite and Rum Shack’s patrons were lapping up every minute of it. It’s always a challenge to be the penultimate band of the evening, as it’s difficult to gauge whether the crowd are there for you or just for the headliner; but, from few quick scans of the room, you could tell that the people who were in the audience for the set wholeheartedly wanted to be there.
If you’ve ever listened to Soapbox before, you’d know they were a great pick for the night. Every song of theirs points out a different issue within today’s society, and this event was the ideal for them to showcase themselves to possible new fans.
Uninvited
Uninvited closed the night out with an impeccable showcase of talent. The punky-pop-rock four piece took us on a trip through time as they performed songs from the beginning of their career up till their newest single ‘Holly’, which dropped at the end of June. You could feel their spirit through their music, and it was intoxicating. I found it difficult to take my eyes off them, and it was only when they left the stage that I finally looked away from the stage they had previously graced.
As bittersweet as it was knowing they were the last act of the night, I still enjoyed every minute of their set. It was also refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ band as the headliner for an event who weren’t given it as the ‘token queer band’ to fill quota, but because they were the best choice to end a brilliant night with a bang.
Throughout the night we were also treated to speeches by Tina Sandwich and Selina Hayes, the founder of Refuweegee. A big congratulations to Mackenzie Burns, Scottish Music Collective, and 432 Presents for planning this class showcase of talent and raising money for a good cause. Chants were shouted, love was felt, and even some tears were shed in The Rum Shack that night. ‘People Make Glasgow’ posters cover our city, and it’s true. No matter who you are, what you look like, or where you come from, you help make Glasgow an even better place.
Links to more information about Refuweegee can be found here.
All photography supplied by Nicola Macaulay (@loumacphoto on Instagram).