If you believe AI, TikTok and the rest of it all suppress Gen Z’s outlets to convey anger and rage, resulting in a generation of anxiety and mental health concerns, I might take your point as marginally valid, but I’d add politely as I possibly could, “have you, perchance, had the pleasure of listening to Steatopygous? They’re from Devizes, don’t you know?!” Then I’d await the pending detonation of a shocked expression…..
That’s punk, and what it set out to do decades ago, and that is the quality hidden within the rolling drums, raging guitars and screaming vocals of this homegrown riot grrrl four-piece who with their latest single Septic will shake the foundations for as far as it’s willing to travel. Septic, if anything previous from Steatopygous will be the baseplate on how they move from here. Whilst it remains DIY, as it should, it has the produced balance of natural progression and leaves you anticipating what’s to come from this emerging band.
It’s punk on a SmallTown Tigers level, in your face and demanding you pay attention.
On the theme of body image, it takes no prisoners. Fronted by Poppy Hillier with bassist Eliza Brindle, drummer Ewan Middleton and an additional Rufus on guitar who wrote the song, Steatopygous, you’ve really gone and done it now; this is a pinnacle track to your development as a force to be reckoned with, this is outrageous, and I love it!
In times of pain or stress cats mimic the cry of a human baby to best attract attention. You may not like it, but if you don’t address the situation and aid the pet, you are unfortunately part of the problem. Riot Grrrl is a subcultural movement of anti-punk feminism deriving from the USA’s northwest in the nineties, which, like it or not, has found a new resting place in Devizes thanks to rising teen band Steatopygous…and with a debut demo, they’re rightfully attracting attention too.
Not Devizes you may whimper, our affluent yet insular market town steeped in tradition, where the most commonly reported crime during October this year was violence and sexual offences, more than double the second on the list, this anti-social behaviour we’ve got a bee in our bonnets about? Seems a rather apt location for youth’s screams of anger and frustration at the inequality of patriarchy to me.
Dealing with issues facing youth, our town’s newcomers, riot front-grrrl Poppy Hillier, bassist Eliza Brindle and drummer Ewan Middleton may well have facetiously named their band after an accumulation of fat on the thighs and/or bum, but their musical subjects are far from ironic or amusing. Neither are they the female answer to NRWO, with their blithe and amicable indie-pop style. This is artistically righteous, a freedom of expression, and just like the cat’s meow, you’d better take heed.
Stalwart support act at Trowbridge’s Pump, a venue dedicated to hosting the upcoming, whereby I saw them first, in June, despite our much younger reporter Flo singing their praises prior, when headlining Devizes Youth Action Group gigs. Steatopygous delivered varying themes there, such as one song on the crisis in Gaza. But the two tracks released on this demo, recorded by Kieran Moore at Komedia, concentrate on matters closer to home and traditional to the ethos of Riot Grrrl; boys taking advantage of a male-dominated world.
Cassowary, a bird with unusual reproduction behaviour which sees the male tend the egg while the female seeks other mates, is the metaphoric name for perhaps the most composed tune of the two. With archetypal driving drums and laden guitar it’s short, fiery and in your face, but perhaps not so aggressive as the other tune, Little Boy, which is a style-defining peach. Angry and unabashed, it takes no prisoners.
It is the screech of utmost exasperation, the deliverance of cries typically bottled or only released alone. And therein lies the brilliance and reason of Steatopygous, this erudite anti-sensitive artistic licence opens a matured eye to the vexations and anguish of youth, particularly identifying the uneven game of love and all its sordid undertones. Or if you fall into the category subjected and victimised by the behaviour expressed so poignantly by Steatopygous, theoretically there’s the emotive response of identifying with it and not feeling alone with your troubles.
This is thunderously original and raw, daring samaritan punk, released on Trowbridge’s cassette label Sketch Book Records, which if it honours anything, it’s this wholly DIY ethos of Riot Grrrl, and though will remain niche, is something you cannot ignore; phew, I might need a little lie down now!!
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward “E”) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy…
Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing…
Daphne’s Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in…
Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He…
Join the St John’s Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th…
The first gig and club night exclusively for Secondary school aged youth in Devizes is set for Friday 2nd of February at the Exchange nightclub. In conjunction with St James Church, the Devizes Youth Action Group has organised this event for youth, run by youth and created by youth…..only making me wish I was a little bit younger, just a little bit you understand?!
Two local upcoming youth bands, Steatopygous and BellaDonna, of which we’ve heard great things about and will no doubt hear more, will play the night with Devizes School year 10 lads, Shox, headling the bill, and a DJ set from their drummer, Flam. The bar will be non-alcoholic, and here’s hoping this will spur on further youth gigs and club nights in Devizes.
This night is hosted by Devizes Youth Action Group (DYAG), a newly formed group of youth wanting to make things happen for young people in and around Devizes. It is supported by Devizes School and Devizes Town Council. If it’s one thing to see and hear of youth creating their own bands, it’s another to organise such events for them to play and for all to attend, and furthermore, all going well, Devizine’s brilliant young reporter Flo should be on hand to review it.
This night is exclusively for Secondary School aged youth only. No entry will be permitted for those younger or older. Online tickets are £4. Tickets on the door on the night are £6. All profits from the bar and ticket sales will be used to support future DYAG events. There will be professional security on the door during the event.
Devizes-based Steatopygous are Eliza, Poppy and Ewan, and define themselves as post punk/riot grrrl, BellaDonnaare B on lead guitar, bassist Ems, and drummer Roxie, headlining are Shox, new to me, but then, I’m passed it! Please give them a follow on Insta. Well done to everyone for organising this, and good luck to the bands and Flam; we show Gen Z in a positive light and fully support your efforts!
This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events in…
Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlborough’s singer-songwriter Gus White’s debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and it’s more…
Having to unfortunately miss Devizes’ blues extravaganza on Friday, I crossed the borderline on Saturday to get my prescribed dosage of Talk in Code…with a…
No, I didn’t imagine for a second they would, but upcoming Take the Stage winners, alt-rock emo four-piece, Butane Skies have released their second song,…
Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Lade’s latest offering of soulful pop. It’s timelessly cool and…
Words by Ollie MacKenzie. Featured Image by Barbora Mrazkova. The creative process can be a winding, long, and often confusing journey. Seeing a project come…
devizine.com 