All stars: PWR BTTM live in London

09 December 2016, 18:09 | Written by Jessica Goodman

(Live)

(PWR BTTM)

Punk rock has always been a space for outsiders. From its DIY ethos to its characteristic aesthetic, the subculture has always been associated with a strong sense of self-expression. It might be seen as wild, but behind the raw momentum all punk is, is a cry for the freedom to be exactly who you are. Try as many do, there are few bands that can actually embody this - and that's why, when it happens, it becomes something so important.

Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce make up one such band. Armed with just a set of drums, a guitar, and an abundance of glitter, PWR BTTM make music to believe in. Quick-witted contemplations on queerness, gender, and everything in between marry a wry sense of humour with flawless grace. It's rock and roll of the highest caliber. Face-melting solos meet choruses that sound ready to be echoed by 20,000 people in an arena rather than the 200 people here tonight. Wearing an inside-out dress with the tag still attached and a floor length gown seemingly woven from glitter, the duo transform a dark pub back room in London into a shimmering haven.

From the yearning romanticism of "I Wanna Boi", through discussions of the "Irish pastoral twink-core" that would result from a collaboration between Enya and One Direction's Niall Horan, past cuts from the band's as-of-yet-unannounced second record that showcase the pair more dynamically than ever, to the storming riffs of "Ugly Cherries" and beyond, the gathered revel in every moment the band spend on stage. Standing in a crowd of friends and strangers screaming "he's alright" as the duo's eponymous album track reaches its apex, there's a real sense that moments like this are what it's all about. It's nothing elaborate, but what PWR BTTM provide during their time on stage is nothing short of a celebration.

It might not seem like there's all that much to celebrate. From Brexit through the recent American election to our most beloved stars passing away one by one, the world has started to feel like a pretty dark place. Making jokes about the "Cheeto monster" who is now president elect and the gay hell critics have told the pair awaits for them when they meet their demise, the duo take it all in their stride. Celebrating life in all of it's complexity, PWR BTTM offer much valued hope in the face of adversity, and the belief that just maybe the strength we've been looking for was where we needed it all along.