SHAME

Bracing South London post-punkers make rock exciting and dangerous again

Shame emerged from the Brixton’s Queen’s Head pub scene to be hailed as “2018’s angriest, shoutiest young British guitar band”.

These lads know only one way. Onwards! Don’t look for caution or politeness in this South London band’s adrenaline-fused post-punk. It is full to the brim of angry anarchy and indomitable, snotty energy. The five-piece’s charming and primal no-bullshit songs are made for fist-pumping the air.

Shame played Roskilde Festival in 2017. Back then, they hadn’t even released an album yet. Songs of Praise was released the following year to great critical acclaim – and the band lived up to all the praise (see what we did there?). The debut ended of many critics’ end-of-year lists, and Shame has since been on a hurtling upwards trajectory.

Witnessing a Shame gig could be compared to a religious experience (but let’s not), as singer Charlie Steen captivates and commands his disciples… ahem, audience. He harnesses the chaotic magnetism of a true frontman – a curious, grubby, disgusting, alluring mix of rallying vigour and sneering disdain, throwing his entire physicality into every moment with vein-popping intensity.

Yes, a Shame show is one of those ‘I was there’ moments, and you really should be here for these chaps. And if you’re not, well, that’s just a bloody…