Sunday 24 February saw London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen play host to SHATTERJAPAN’s Pussy Riot Punk Prayer Commemoration “FREEDOM” Concert to mark the one year anniversary of Pussy Riot’s punk prayer (which took place on 21 February), for which two of three arrested members of the group are still serving their two-year sentences in Russian penal colonies. The night was a celebration of new music and freedom of expression, with participating artists and speakers from the UK, Canada, Russia, Sweden, and bands even travelling down on the day from Scotland and Manchester to take part. This spectacular no-budget collaboration of 4 live bands (CAT BEAR TREE, SKINNY GIRL DIET, AU PALAIS, MIDAS FALL), 5 band DJs (SHEEN, THE VOYEURIST, CHVRCHES, NEUROTIC MASS MOVEMENT, KARIN PARK) and 3 speakers (MASHA KARP, KERRY MCCARTHY MP, MIKE LERNER) from the political, journalistic and film worlds proved to the UK and beyond that the bravery of the jailed women has not been forgotten and that exciting events can be brought together with strong solidarity among some very talented and passionate artists – oh, and also that raffles are a lot of fun (many thanks to those bands who donated fabulous goodies for lucky punters to take home).
Local band SHEEN kicked off the night with a hot DJ set. While also kindly manning the doors and offering some impromptu DJing during the night, Aneta and Lewis were kept very busy!
Sheen then gave way to the first live act to hit the stage: CAT BEAR TREE. This South London-based trio Zoe Konez, Claudia Mansaray and Sarah Smith smashed the stage with their no-nonsense set, leaving us without a breath in between tracks, belting out their melodic, soul-filled and often punky sounds, with fantastic vocals, tight guitar riffs and solid drums. They warmed up the crowds with their smiles, amazing musicianship and no holds barred set, setting the standard for the bands to come. We cannot wait to see this band live again, and they have been well behind the Pussy Riot cause.
This was followed by our first speaker of the night, MASHA KARP – former BBC Russian Service editor and producer, also a trustee of Rights in Russia and now London-based freelance journalist with a special interest in relations between Russia and the West. Masha described the startling degree of anti-Putin sentiment in Russia at the time of the Punk Prayer, then of course the farcical trial of Masha, Nadya and Katya when the state could be seen digging in its heels. She went on to outline the disturbing tightening up of control now in Russia and the determination of local authorities to block opposition voices. She emphasized the injustice of holding young mothers Nadya and Masha in remote and separate penal colonies, the manipulation by authorities to misrepresent the women in the public eye and manipulation of the jailed women themselves to crumble their legal standing. It was a heartfelt and impassioned speech which hit home, providing a much-needed finger-pointing at mainstream media for their whitewashing and misreporting of the background to the case, as well as a stark reminder that we are lucky indeed to be able to speak out and enjoy our freedoms, and that events like this are critical to keeping international awareness of the case alive and kicking.
SKINNY GIRL DIET were on next to tear up the towering stage. With a ferocity far beyond their years, the three-piece London riot grrrl band gave their all into a performance that had much of the audience talking about them for the rest of the night. Somewhat reminiscent of the Slits, Skinny Girl Diet’s music reaches back into the past and drags it kicking and quite literally screaming into the present. “Dimethyltryptamine” is a standout track and perhaps a good starting place for the uninitiated. They’ve garnered a lot of fans, not least Kerry McCarthy MP who made a point of coming by early to catch them in all their glory. Along with cousin Amelia, sisters Ursula and Delilah Holliday surely come from one of the coolest music families ever, with mother Melodie in band Art Trip and The Static Sound (who will be on stage with SGD on 21 April at London’s The Bull & Gate) and their manager father Dan who knows all things music and is an amazing artist. The band’s now legendary and iconic poster designs took over the entire venue on Sunday, with guests offering payment for them, whispering in our ear, “Would you mind if I took some of them home…?” and staff bagsying them before they’d even hit the walls.
Class London band THE VOYEURIST took us through to the next stage of the night with their stomping DJ set, lead singer Sarah Nag masterfully spinning tunes to a room of people stricken with temporary tinnitus following the blistering SGD set.
At this juncture, KERRY MCCARTHY, Labour MP for Bristol East and longterm supporter of the Pussy Riot cause, took to the stage with MIKE LERNER, co-director of 2013 Sundance award-winning documentary feature “Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer.” As the only British MP to travel to the original trial last August, Kerry shared her rare insight into the eerie proceedings, while Mike described his journey and observations when shooting the film. Having just completed a private screening of the film to a select audience earlier the same day, the issue was at the top of their minds, and both talked passionately about their experiences. Mike revealed exclusive fully-subtitled footage of Masha and Nadya talking privately inside the “aquarium” during trial – their conversation running from downright hilarity (the women mocking the media circus, only to be told to shut up by one of the guards) to jaw-dropping stoicism (Masha stating that she could handle whatever punishment would be dealt to them, but couldn’t bear to see someone else suffer through it). This very clip brought Masha’s and Nadya’s voices to us in one foul swoop, and tears fell.
Mood switch came with Toronto’s AU PALAIS taking to the stage. London-based brother-sister duo Elise and David Commathe filled the room with their lingering, atmospheric and stunningly beautiful electronic music. “This is our first show in a very long time. We came back to society for this show!” said singer Elise. Their return to live shows was welcomed warmly, as they aired some brand new music as well as tracks from their 2011 EP “Tender Mercy.” With a captivating blend of pop accessibility and deep, emotionally-stirring soundscapes reminiscent of Purity Ring, this is certainly a band to keep an eye on in 2013.
Lauren Mayberry of new Glasgow electro band CHVRCHES took to the booth to play a storming headline DJ set. Making time to come down for the event, on the day before the first day of the band’s first UK headline tour, Mayberry also co-founded the edgy TYCI, a collective run by women with a blog, zine, radio show and monthly live event in Glasgow.
The night closed with classic DJ sets from Yin and David from London’s NEUROTIC MASS MOVEMENT, and Sweden’s KARIN PARK, both of whom have been long- time supporters of the Pussy Riot cause and our events. Karin wins the award for the most spectacularly beautiful coat of the night – we couldn’t stop stroking it – and you can see her perform live in London at The Lexington soon on 10 April.
The event certainly had people talking about this issue once again. And further awareness will be raised on the release of upcoming documentary feature “Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer.” Two out of three members of Pussy Riot are still imprisoned, and the more international pressure that can be created on the case the better. MP Kerry McCarthy’s involvement in this event has shown that our politicians are capable of listening and becoming aware of how freedom of speech issues as far afield as Russia can have a worldwide impact. Artists and musicians from across the UK and beyond are up in arms over the treatment of the women and are frustrated with the case’s mishandling or overlooking by mainstream media. And, as Elise from Au Palais said, when asked if events like this can help the cause: “I definitely hope so – because it’s not done.”