Credit: Far Out / Jez Pennington

Citizen / Drug Church live review: a night of emphatic punk abandon

Sat 10 February 2024 8:58, UK

Citizen / Drug Church - Electric Ballroom, Camden

It’s raining, a usual thing in the pits of England. But tonight, it’s that annoying kind of airborne moisture where, thanks to the agitated blusters of wind, it gets in every conceivable crevice. Adding this to a somewhat dodgy stomach from the previous night’s burger and a long old trek on the rickety Northern Line up to the home of London’s weirdest NPCs: Camden Town would have been enough to stay put on any other evening, but not this night. Citizen and Drug Church were playing at the Electric Ballroom, and I was not to be swayed.

An unclaimed bottle of Corona from the fridge and a cigarette were the facilitators for this journey, and off we went. Foregoing the wedge of lime and any form of consideration for the odds stacked against me, on into the night I went, leaving the relative comfort of south of the river for a glorious evening of punk and alternative rock. Citizen had landed on the insignificant rock for a short run in support of their brilliant most recent album, 2023’s Calling the Dogs, a record boasting ample hooks, from the vocal melodies to riffs.

After about an hour in transit underground, I touched down in Camden. A wait in the wet outside the venue was in store, but after what seemed like an age, I had converged with my mate – an avowed fan of both the headliners and Drug Church – and we got nestled up in the pub on the corner for a swift one. There aren’t many things worse than running headfirst into a packed venue after a protracted journey, so another alcoholic pick-me-up was in store.

We delved into the captivating creative journey of Citizen and how they’ve consistently produced remarkable music while staying true to their unique style. From their debut album, Youth, in 2013, to Calling the Dogs, the punk ethos has remained a constant presence in their work. However, the band has embarked on a genuine creative exploration where their love for the craft takes precedence over conforming to specific genre constraints. Simply put, they are Citizen, and that’s all that needs to be said. Their distinct sonic identity became even more evident as our conversation unfolded.

Drug Church opened the show. Given that the members all have different projects, musical and otherwise, seeing them this side of the Atlantic is rare, so it added an extra dose of significance to the evening. It was also time to watch one of the best around, Far Out‘s 2023 Guitarist of the Year, Nick Cogan, in action.

There was a quick turnaround between acts, and before we knew it, Drug Church had launched. The audience was much more swollen now, with the temperature markedly increasing and a more palpable atmosphere in the room. The quintet were electric, too. Tight as can be, with Cogan’s constant riffing and Cory Galusha’s crunch a treat, backed by the rhythmic dynamism of Pat Wynne and Chris Villeneuve.

Drug Church - Jez Pennington - 01 — Credit: Jez Pennington

A career-spanning set that saw Drug Church play all the classics, including ‘Does It Work?’, ‘Bliss Out’ and ‘Weed Pin’, as well as fan favourites such as ‘Tiresome’, it was as emphatic of a showing as they come. Of course, frontman Patrick Kindlon was typically animated, having the crowd baying from his hands with raw delivery, sardonic lyrics, and a generally dry sense of humour. His vocals and their songs are even better in the live setting; even though it sounds impossible due to the quality of the records, the conviction is nothing short of incredible.

There was now a brief respite from the pulsating energy of Albany’s finest export as everyone readied themselves for the headliners. A stint in the comically long queue for the men’s bathroom, a chat with a random Swedish fella and another pint of alcoholic refreshment were in order. Then, if we thought it couldn’t have filled up any further, the main room was packed to the brim as the crowd eagerly awaited Citizen.

This 18-song run was the perfect cherry on the cake and an emphatic culmination of a 15-year career. The quintet instantly transfixed the crowd by effortlessly taking the baton from their support acts and sprinting off into the distance. Another career-spanning performance showcased every aspect of the band, from their emo-leaning early days to the indie twists of today; I got the sense that for many people, this was an evening of self-fulfilment that had been a long time coming.

Staples such as ‘How Does It Feel?’ and ‘The Summer’ went off, as did remarkably catchy new pieces such as ‘When I Let You Down’ and ‘If You’re Lonely’, with fans old and young getting stuck in and losing themselves in total punk abandon. A distillation of a band at their zenith, they performed naturally as each member seemed to be locked in a sort of flow state where muscle memory and passion danced in symbiosis. The frenzied crowd loudly echoed every word in response, confirming their passionate devotion to the group.

Frontman Mat Kerekes was exultant from start to finish, with ample vitality as the tip of the group’s spear. Guitarists Nick Hamm and Mason Mercer’s respective styles and harmonies dovetailed to full effect, and bassist Eric Hamm stood out with his clanky tone really special, cutting through the mix. Drummer Ben Russin – whose brother Ned I had interviewed only a few hours prior – was his customarily unwavering self, guiding the band through each chapter of their history with precision.

Towards the end of the set, things reached boiling point, and the smattering of crowd surfers had metamorphosed into a circle pit, with those in it, racing around, sweat-drenched, in heady bliss to the rhythm of the music. That closing moment was the perfect embodiment of the evening’s general atmosphere.