Gig review: Soft Play and Panic Shack at Rock City

With timely lyrics, heavy riffs and an electric energy, Soft Play are proving that the spirit of punk is well and truly alive and kicking. 

Of course, this most ferocious of genres has always been more than a mere fashion or a place in time. Gone is the uniform of mohawks and leather jackets - instead, for those who need it, punk is a space for letting off steam and a medium for shouting about things that matter (or things that don’t). This was one of those rowdy gigs that felt like a much-needed catharsis, bringing an almost holy atmosphere to Rock City this week.

Before a single note had been played, as we waited in the smoking area, an impromptu chorus of the 2024 single Punk’s Dead erupted from a group of people - a testament to both the catchiness of the track, and the passion of the band’s following. It was a moment you’d expect to see at a festival rather than a Tuesday night gig, leaving a palpable crackle of excitement running through the crowd. You could tell it was going to be a good one.

Back inside, I was looking forward to Panic Shack. I always try to check out support bands - if an act I love has handpicked a band to come on tour with them, that’s a good recommendation there. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this fierce fivesome on several occasions and each time they managed to transfigure an audience from a static, stiff post-work crowd to a loose, excited dancing throng. Tonight was no exception.

As a band that seems to tour non-stop, I’m hoping they take a break to re-energise and also treat us to some new music, because I’ve listened to their 2022 EP Baby Shack relentlessly in the past two years. Full of intensely relatable wry wit, for many their lyrics are a refreshing reflection of 21st century life and very enjoyable to sing along to - from “I don’t wanna hold your baby” (Baby), to “I didn’t know anyone actually put the milk in first?!” (The Ick), and “Feed me, I’m skint and hungry!” (Meal Deal). Still, each time I see them it’s a pure delight - they bring mad energy, a perfectly synced heavy hash of sound and on this occasion the reaction from the audience was probably one of the most enthusiastic I’ve seen.

Then onto Soft Play. It’s actually quite hard to review a gig when you’ve happily become absorbed into a sea of singing, stomping humans, distorted notes and absolute chaos. I’m not sure everyone enjoys being melodically screamed at for ninety minutes, but for those that do this is a band to see.

In twenty years I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mosh pit quite that intense at Rock City, but I’m really pleased to see bands like Soft Play and Bob Vylan making space for women to safely enjoy that delicious mayhem at the front.

Within the furore of the moment, I thoroughly remember enjoying F**k the Hi-hat, and The Hunter, which are both immensely catchy. Then from this year’s Heavy Jelly, which comes highly recommended, we were treated to the wonderful Issac is Typing, John Wick (which is about being John Wick and very angry), and an emotional Everything and Nothing to finish.

My notes became distinctly illegible before completely ceasing half way through - but who wants to be writing on their phone at a gig like that. We all emerged sweatily into the night, a little wild eyed and happily satiated with the freedom of being completely untamed for a few hours. Soft Play is a therapy, and a band I need to see again and again.

Soft Play performed at Rock City on 29th October 2024.

rock-city.co.uk