It was time for another night of live music at MK11, and to see none other than Millie Manders and the Shutup. I have been waiting to see this band for a while, and it just so happened that they were making their Milton Keynes debut so I had to! With all three bands bringing a pop-punk vibe with catchy melodies and guitar riffs, it was the perfect collection of bands for feel good tunes, and they had the crowd dancing the night away.
Firstly, Junk Season kicked off the night, made up of Harrison Kendall (vocals and guitar), Daniel Streeter (bass guitar) and Hayden Peerless (drums). These guys made me feel like I was listening to Blink-182 again for the first time. Their songs are full of catchy guitar riffs that I found myself humming all the way home and punky drum fills that made even the most reserved of the crowd have a little bop. They had a great energy on stage and definitely warmed everyone up for the remaining two bands. Personally, my favourite song of theirs was “You Made A Bastard” which is just such a tune, and very relatable. If you’re into 2000s pop-punk with a modern edge, you can check them out at their next show at The Beehive in London on April 28th.
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Next we had Eat Defeat who were wild on stage! The energy was immaculate, with all of the band extremely active on stage for the whole duration of the set; they were a joy to watch. They describe themselves as adult contemporary pop-punk and have embarked on tours across the US, so it was amazing seeing them play in my hometown. Coming from someone who has been to a lot of gigs and seen a lot of bands, it was refreshing to see a band who is clearly loving every second of performing. Their music was fast-paced and energetic to match their stage presence, with really catchy hooks throughout. Coming all the way from Leeds, they’re a breath of fresh air and I reckon they’re one to watch.
Finally, we had Millie Manders and the Shutup. I was thrilled to hear that they were stopping here on their tour so I just had to get down and see them live, and they did not disappoint. Their music explores politics, social norms and basically just questioning everything that’s wrong in the world. Ballsy female vocalists standing up to the world through their music is what I live for, and we do need more of that, but for now Millie is doing it for everyone. Her set had everything you could ever want; a bit of fierce, high energy music that makes you feel like you could take on the world, as well as a couple of more low-key tunes that address social issues. Halfway through the set, Millie grabbed a saxophone and played some melodies between singing, which I thought was just class.
From a crowd perspective, she interacted with everyone in the crowd the whole time she was on stage, and from a photographer’s perspective she was amazing to photograph. On the line-up for Slam Dunk festival this year, it’s clear to see that this band are on their way up and it’s so very deserved. Millie’s music speaks her mind, her experiences and probes into sensitive topics that need addressing and the whole night felt like such a safe space for anyone struggling mentally.
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As they continue their tour into York, I strongly suggest you make time to go and see this band play live if you want an injection of female rage and to leave the gig feeling invincible.
Photos by Lottie Parkinson
Millie Manders and The Shutup: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | bandcamp | spotify | youtube
Eat Defeat: facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube | bigcartel | bandcamp
Junk Season: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube
