Gonna Build An Army, Gonna Smash That Patriarchy: Introducing Peach Club
Tuesday, 07 March 2017
Written by Laura Johnson
Photo: Poppy Marriott
There may be almost 5,000 miles and three decades separating the riot grrrl scene that blossomed in Olympia, Washington and Peach Club’s inception in Norwich, but a single spin of Mission Impossible, one half of their recent double a-side single, will have you feeling as though you’ve been transported back to the early ‘90s through the medium of unapologetic feminist lyrics and raw mixes reminiscent of Bratmobile and Bikini Kill.
The band’s story began in 2015 with a poster that read: 'ARE YOU A DRUMMER, AND A FEMINIST?'. This call to arms was penned by vocalist Katie Revell, who was gradually putting foundations in place after recruiting bassist Amanda Mackinnon through a friend. The call was answered by Rebecca Wren.
“Norwich is a small place, everyone knows each other in some way,” Wren says. “Having mutual friends, I contacted Katie after seeing Peach Club's poster, which was beautiful because I love riot grrrl bands and punk.”
After a handful of shows as a trio it was agreed something was missing: a guitarist. Enter Charlie Hart, who was welcomed into the fold following a recommendation from Wren. The band cemented the line up with their debut gig together at Norwich Arts Centre, where they opened for Declan McKenna. “It was the first time I'd ever played in front of an audience, which wasn't an easy start,” Hart remembers. “But I was hooked.”
In addition to their mutual love of punk and riot grrrl, the band bonded over shared views and activism in promoting feminism and equality. On My Best Friend, Revell sings: “Gonna build an army, gonna smash that patriarchy.” But the friction created by their differences, in musical terms at least, also helped shape their abrasive sound. Their tastes range from Black Sabbath to Black Honey and Metronomy. “The mix of influences and tastes helps us as a band as it expands our horizons with future sounds,” Hart says.
Though they have not yet celebrated their second anniversary, Peach Club are picking up momentum at an impressive pace. They are climbing bills, amassing like-minded fans along the way, and have already progressed from Garage Band, which was used to record their debut track, Not Your Girl, to Norwich’s Old School Studios - a mainly analogue unit based in the last Cold War nuclear bunker built in Europe - for last year’s ‘The Bitch Diaries’ EP.
In the studio they stick to the basics and track their songs live, hoping to harness the energy they generate in front of an audience. “We play a track live instead of recording each instrument individually because it gives it that real, raw sound which we aim for,” MacKinnon explains.“Live is definitely better. Recording is nice because you get to hear your own material and hard work come together, but playing it live to a crowd really brings it to life.”
Following the release of White Girl and Mission Impossible late last year, songs that Revell and Wren say are focused on feminism and obstacles for women in the music industry, the band are committed to racking up more miles on the road in 2017. “We want to travel more and spend more time together and play more shows,” Revell says. Simple, really.
White Girl/Mission Impossible is out now via Witchgirl Recordings.
Peach Club Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed March 8 2017 - LONDON George Tavern (with The Tuts and Dolls)
Sun March 12 2017 - LONDON Moth Club (Grrl Zine Fair)
Wed March 15 2017 - LONDON Finsbury Pub (In The Picture: A celebration of women in the music industry)
Thu May 18 2017 - NORWICH Owl Sanctuary (supporting Post War Glamour Girls)
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