Tucked away within the streets of Hyde Park in Leeds, Brudenell Social Club has long been a haven for grassroots talent, and on Tuesday night, it played host to some of the most exciting outliers in the alternative scene. With Norwegian art-punk firestarters Pom Poko headlining and the blazen Brixton-trio Alien Chicks supporting, the humble stage of the reformed gentleman’s club was set for an evening of exhilarating, raucous unpredictability.
The otherworldly trio Alien Chicks wasted no time shaking up the snug concert room, launching straight into ‘Frames,’ a relentless, clattering cut from their 2024 EP Indulging The Mobs. Building to a feverish climax with its erratic, almost manic chants of “Light the candle burn / Light the candle burn / Light the candle burn”, the track erupted once more into a raw, rage-fueled frenzy, showcasing their unhinged intensity and razor-sharp delivery. From the outset, it was clear they weren’t following in anyone’s footsteps — their sound, movements, and presence were entirely their own.
Plucking more material from their latest EP, the deceptively gentle opening of ‘Qwerty’ lulled the crowd into a false sense of serenity, only to shatter it once more with their signature punk-rock intensity and brash, on-the-nose lyrics such as “Estate agents are the worst”.
A gem within their setlist, though, had to be their latest release, ‘Donkeyhead’, a rapid, high-voltage hit that showcased not only their intrinsic bond as a group but the catchy harmonisation of Joesef and Stefan’s vocals.
Culminating in a short-lived instrumental interlude before bursting into their latest unreleased song, ‘Pub’, their stage presence was that of a band who had been doing this for years. Having already supported Leeds’ very own English Teacher, as well as The Libertines, Warmduscher, and Lambrini Girls, it’s no surprise the group are already making huge waves in the diverse music scenes they swim in. Their unwavering, electric energy — surprising for a band composed of two full-time teachers — makes them one of the most exciting acts of the moment, a group bound to capture the attention of even those far removed from the post-punk world.
Not phased by their time on stage running out, they continued beyond their initial 12-song setlist to treat their riled up audience to “half a song”, only serving to reaffirm their non-conformist energy and visceral love for what they do. Sated, but entirely ready for a second helping of beautifully bizarre soundbites, the crowd awaited the arrival of their next course in the form of Pom Poko.
Hailing from Oslo, Norway and named after the well-loved Studio Ghibli film, the post-punk band hit the ground running with the first track off their 2024 album Champion, ‘Growing Story’. Soon after, the foursome ramped up the pace of the night with ‘My Blood’, before showing their more instrumentally experimental side with the likes of ‘Follow The Lights’, whereby frontwoman Ragnhild Fangel rhythmically thrashed a cowbell to commence the track and enliven the crowd.
No strangers to Leeds or the Brudenell Social Club — having last played there in 2021 — the band looked completely at ease, bordering on at home. With the now packed-out crowd mirroring their zen energy, with all eyes on Fangel as she moved with an effortless magnetism, the energy and connection between the stage and the carpeted pub floor was palpable and intimate. This tangible synergy between the band and crowd reached its peak during ‘Danger Baby,’ as guitarist Martin Tonne turned to the packed room and encouraged them to echo the song’s title refrain back to him.
Characterising their night in West Yorkshire was a string of anecdotes that elevated their already eccentric appeal with a comedic edge — a trait perhaps not widely associated with those in the post-punk hall of fame. From Fangel recalling her first learned English word, “disgusting,” to being physically blocked from their tour digs by an unruly, drunken Airbnb host — ironically near Peppa Pig World — their performance remained utterly lighthearted and fun throughout, proving that punk can be both powerful and playful.
Dedicating their penultimate track, ‘Like A Lady’, to “all the ladies out there”, and their youngest fan in the crowd who watched on from the stagefront with equal parts anticipation and admiration, before finishing on the wholesome track ‘My Family’, they ended what was a rambunctious evening with both grace and catharsis.
Continuing the theme of female empowerment and the punk-fuelled euphoria that shattered the mundanity of a Tuesday night, the collective made their exit to Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman.’ In the immediate aftermath of blaring, live sound, the room glowed in warm coral hues, the air still charged with the energy of swathes of pogoing punks. Though Alien Chicks and Pom Poko are still in their early days, this performance proved that their rise isn’t just inevitable — it’s already well underway
Words by Ruby Brown
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