In the wake of their latest EP “See You In The Dark”, Canadian grunge-pop outfit Softcult came to Glasgow on a mission to make the world a better place. How? By starting conversations.
Their subject matter ranges from misogyny and toxic masculinity to mental health, capitalism and the climate crisis – heavy stuff for a Saturday night out, even in 2023. Yet twin siblings Mercedes (vocals + guitar) and Phoenix (drums + vocals) make the whole ordeal feel liberating, potent, almost jubilant, as much as it is urgent. Their particular brand of alt-rock – as it would have been known in the 90s – blends the savage lyrical commentary of Riot grrrl with the hazy muted fuzz of shoegaze and swirling dream-pop overtones to produce the kind of cinematic musical drama that sucks you into its dark universe, whether you’re laying on your bed listening through headphones with the lights out or cruising down a sunny motorway with your hand out the window. It’s all-consuming. And beautiful.
Glasgow band Bottle Rockets open the show with a strong set of seven songs including an unlikely cover of Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” that somehow fits perfectly with their upbeat indie vibes. They’re the kind of band you’re likely to stumble upon being mixed roughly in a tiny festival marquee, at half-one on a Saturday afternoon, and fall in love with. In the two years since they formed – and let’s be real, one year since pandemic restrictions fully lifted in Scotland – the four-piece have garnered a decent following from their regular live outings. With only a couple songs recorded so far, it’s promising to see a band of their calibre making significant waves in the local scene and finding so much support from promoters as well.
Softcult take to the stage after only a brief changeover, taking fans at the back by surprise. Thankfully there’s a prolonged instrumental build into their first song of the set giving punters a chance to get in position and focus their attention. Opening with the dynamic “Spit It Out” is a kind of call to arms; a song about questioning cultural and societal norms and challenging ideologies that look to oppress certain identities or communities, it very much sets the tone for what’s to come. They follow up with three songs from 2021’s “Year Of The Rat” EP that address sexism and misogyny while displaying both the strong, defiant and also tender, damaged sides of survivors. Pop punk hitter “Another Bish” crashes into the introspective “Gloomy Girl”. There is a spectrum of emotions on display throughout Softcult’s set; ample venom and anger, yes, but there is also fear and self-loathing, doubt and disappointment and, importantly, there is self-reflection and compassion.
How refreshing to see a band cut straight to the point with every lyric in their catalogue. Not a single song is wasted on triviality. Mercedes Arn-Horn takes her time between songs to outline each weighty topic as it arises, to ensure even those at the back by the bar are hearing her message clearly. “Gaslight” is fairly straightforward but the nuance between what equals compromise and what equals control in a relationship warrants deeper consideration in “Perfect Blue”. These are relatively gentle bookends to the particularly ferocious “BWBB” which takes aim at those, especially authority figures and leaders, who victim-blame or defend the perpetrators of sexual violence on the basis of gender. The song was written following the murder of Sarah Everard, the circumstances of which represent an abiding fear among women in particular. Mercedes goes on to introduce “Someone2me” as a song about incel culture and “how disgusting it is”. The song itself takes an honest and direct approach without leaning into sympathy or confrontation, all drenched in swirling guitars.
As the set begins to wind towards its end, lyrical threads are teased more emphatically. Mercedes describes how their latest EP is built around the subject of accountability and what that means in the context of individuals and communities; “It doesn’t mean pointing the finger and saying you’re the problem”, she explains. Before launching into the dreamlike darkness of “Drain” she reiterates that questioning how we interact with the dominant culture, politics, religion etc within our closest relationships is as important as standing up to corporations and governments. While they might sound aggressive, Softcult’s songs are really about empowerment and connecting with other angsty, socially conscious misfits. They’re also quite good fun. Choosing to opt out of the unnecessary encore protocol fits nicely with the mood of defiance and the band close out the night with two more songs. “One Of A Million” is prefaced by another lengthy but powerfully heartfelt introduction from Mercedes declaring, “It feels like more than just a gig, it feels like we’re starting a movement”. The chorus of voices and raised fists that follow are pretty convincing.
Words & pictures: Kendall Wilson @softcrowdclassic