We caught Ontario based grungers Softcult on their last day of their European tour in London, ahead of their upcoming debut full-length album When A Flower Doesn’t Grow, set for release 30th January.
It’s been a couple of years since Softcult have touched UK soil, and it’s a strong turnout for a Tuesday night in London. The two sisters Mercedes Arn-Horn (guitar and vocals) and Phoenix Arn-Hon (drums and vocals) display no signs of tiredness or slowing down even though it’s their last night of tour.
Their set starts with ‘Drain’, and already released singles from their upcoming album ‘Pill To Swallow’ and ‘Naive’. Swaying and gentle head bangs erupt in the room instantly, as the crowd is enchanted by the slow riffs and mesmerising harmonies.
The band are aligned and in sync as their flow through the set, Mercedes interacting with their bassist Phil Hirst as they fall to the floor in a back bend while they feel the music. As we’re part way through the set, Mercedes makes it clear there will be no ‘peak a boo’ in the style of an encore, that there are only a matter of songs left and that will be it. Their set comes to a close with ‘Spit it Out’, a track from their EP Year of the Snake, and ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ – a track Pheonix asks all women in the audience to come to the front of the stage, while Mercedes introduces with a speech about misogyny and violence towards women, specifically regarding Sarah Everard, who passed away a few years ago after being kidnapped and murdered by a police officer, which spread over news outlets worldwide.
It’s a powerful note to end the London show, and the entire tour on, and one those in the room won’t forget very easily. Softcult have made their mark, and will undoubtedly continue to remind us through their upcoming album.
Softcult
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Photos by Jasmine Marceau – Instagram
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