Gut Health live review: bringing the sun-soaked sounds of Melbourne to Leeds
Over the years, Leeds has been the site of a few historic firsts; the first commercial steam train, the first Marks & Spencer’s, and even the world’s first selfie. This past weekend, the city was once again witness to a historic first, as the Melbourne-based post-punk outfit Gut Health played their first ever UK show at the Brudenell Social Club. While it might not have had the same historical significance as the first commercial steam train, I would venture to guess that their ruthlessly energetic performance was a lot more enjoyable to watch.
The Brudenell Social Club is perhaps the greatest introduction to the music scene of Britain that a band could hope to experience. As a West Yorkshire-born music obsessive, I cannot count the number of nights I have spent standing in the social club, pint of Tetley’s Smooth in hand, taking in an array of groups both young and old. The venue has formed the basis for Leeds’ grassroots and DIY music scene for decades, and Gut Health found a natural home among its carpeted floors and weathered pool tables.
On an uncharacteristically sunny day in Leeds, the venue played host to In Colour Festival, an annual all-dayer showcasing many local, grassroots groups as well as more established figures from across the music scene. I had ventured across to Leeds to spend the day with my friends, taking in the euphoria of live music and, of course, eating the famous Brudenell pies. Officially, the day was being headlined by London-based post-punk electronica outfit Snapped Ankles, but Gut Health were certainly a fan-favourite, in spite of their mid-afternoon slot.
As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the Melbourne punk scene for many years, I was already aware of some of the band’s more popular tracks, like the ear-worm of ‘Inner Norm’. The song has been one of my most-played tracks of late, providing a perfect soundtrack to early spring and summer. Although I had an appreciation for the group, even I was not prepared for the sonic assault the band would dish out to the sweaty crowd in Brudenell’s Community Room. As the band shuffled on stage, to an admittedly sparse crowd, you would be forgiven for mistaking them for any other local post-punk band. However, as soon as they began playing, it was as though a transformation had occurred.
Immediately, the group established themselves as one of the premier acts of the festival. For all the endless amount of bands that I had witnessed in that room, few had managed to straddle the venn diagram of great songwriting, captivating performance and genuinely talented musicianship quite as expertly as Gut Health. “We’re not worthy”, somebody shouted from the crowd after only the second or third song in the set, and that was certainly the feeling that permeated through my mind.
There seems to be a growing trend within Australian punk and post-punk, for bands to try and replicate the sounds of either The Chats or Amyl and the Sniffers – as two of the most popular exports from that scene. In contrast, Gut Health quickly affirmed their own unique sonic imprint. Rattling through an impressive setlist of tracks new and old, the group took the presumably daunting experience of playing in a new country for the first time in their stride.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Athina Uh Oh, Gut Health’s lead singer. Sporting a haircut reminiscent of Republica’s Saffron, the vocalist delivered an enthrallingly energetic performance, sporadically darting around the stage without ever breaking a sweat, missing a beat, or taking her foot off the accelerator. A truly great front person is often enough to carry a band single handedly, but Athina Uh Oh was backed up by a band as skilled and professional as herself. The resulting sound was one that seemed polished and perfected, while maintaining the kind of spontaneity and organic nature that makes punk such an exciting genre.
Disappointingly, the band’s set only lasted for around half an hour, but that was all Gut Health needed to make their mark on the music scene of the UK. Sure, they might not have pulled in the same crowds as some of the other groups on the billing but, for the rest of the day, the question ‘What’s the best thing you’ve seen today?’ elicited only one response: ‘Gut Health’. Perfectly toeing the line between authenticity and enjoyability, their set was the perfect accompaniment to a day of sunshine and live music celebration.
As I emerged from Brudenell’s Community Room, back into the blistering sunshine of Leeds, surrounded by my closest friends, having just seen one of the best performances I have witnessed all year, I couldn’t help but think, “Where else would you rather be, on a day like this?”.
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