Life as a Punktastic writer isn’t always a side stage view at the latest 5 Seconds Of Summer basement gig, free drinks with Dave Grohl, or finding a pre-release copy of the new Brand New album in your inbox. Sure it’s often exactly that, but occasionally us writers just get plain lucky.
Penguin clothes, made famous as being the brand of choice for Seth Cohen in The OC, were hosting an exclusive gig at the Hospital Club, Covent Garden, with fans able to win a pair of tickets through a competition. We got lucky, very lucky in fact, to see our name drawn out and duly headed off to the 90 capacity venue to see We Are Scientists and Twin Atlantic.
Its a classy venue and before the doors opened we were sipping cocktails, which we paid for, in a swanky bar with a roof top view over London. It felt like a taste of the high life. After an introduction from 6 Music’s Matt Everitt, We Are Scientists hit the stage. The New York based band were tight, sounded great, and were incredibly funny between songs. It’s the first time that I’d really given them a shot and their expansive yet punchy sound is evidently set up for much larger venues.
After a short change over Punktastic favourites Twin Atlantic close the night. From the first chords of ‘I Am An Animal’, taken from the band’s new album, it’s life affirming stuff. Twin Atlantic are a good old fashion success story and they’re still getting better by the day. The nine track set includes the anthemic ‘Free’, the storming ‘Make A Beast Of Yourself’, and new single ‘Brothers & Sisters’. Each one sounds huge in such an enclosed space, and from a band who clearly weren’t just going through the motion. Frontman Sam McTrusty throws himself around the stage and appears briefly in the crowd where he is suitably mobbed. It’s an impressive set and you expect nothing less from a band who’ve recently opened stadium shows for Kings Of Leon. Twin Atlantic’s new album, The Great Divide, is out next month and we can’t wait.
Penguin’s Plugged In session was a great night out and it was a real treat to see We Are Scientists and Twin Atlantic in such an intimate space. We couldn’t believe our luck.