The first time I saw Poppycock live was at The Eagle Inn during Salford Music Festival. I wasn't aware of their work prior to the gig, but it proved to be a memorable experience. I could hear a spiky aggressive sound (and a raucous crowd) from the bar. When I went into the gig room to see who was causing the commotion, I wasn't expecting to see Poppycock.
Poppycock began almost four years ago, when the entire line-up only met on the night of their first ever gig. The brainchild of original member of The Fall, Una Baines, the band are a predominately female collective made up of eight regular players, but it's pretty much a mix and match affair. They often appear with different members of an incredibly adaptable line-up. It's like a musical squad rotation system; it keeps things interesting and creativity flowing.
Frontwomen Julie Wolstenholme and Ann-Marie Crowley harmonise during the slower numbers and spit vocals simultaneously during their edgier work. They are clearly seasoned professionals. It's a real assault on the senses and they still have plenty in reserve...Lucy Power steps forward and adds flute melodically to the folksier stuff, and Poppycock still has an ace to play in Rose Niland.
Rose is possibly best known for her own band, jazz influenced Goth act Rose and the Diamond Hand. Her vocals are dark and seductive and add another layer to an already deeply textured band. It shouldn't work, but wonderfully; it does.
The songs are the work of Una and have the edgy unique quality that you expect of one time associate of Mark E Smith and Nico. The skilled line-up conveys it all brilliantly. They have passionate feminist lyrics and big anthemic choruses. There's angst in the lyrical content and a haunting quality to their music.
I asked Una how Poppycock started...
"We played our first gig at the beautiful but sadly dilapidated Hulme Hippodrome" she recalls "It was a ramshackle but equally exciting affair. The band has mutated and changed considerably and we now have a fairly consistent-ish line up. Some of the musicians I met at Seed Studio in Old Trafford, where I volunteer, others I had worked with in the past; and Stewart, our excellent drummer is the newest member. The songs are from a feminist perspective but not in an obvious way and there is humour.
"I expected women to identify with the songs but so many men of all ages really, well...dig it" she adds "That is very life affirming and an `Up yours' to the dreadful media stereotypes of women and men."
Una regards The Eagle Inn as Poppycock's spiritual home, while they have also played The Crescent recently... "Salford has treated us very well indeed" she says, and not necessarily because of The Fall fall-out "A lot of gigs we play, I don't think people are aware of my musical past but they are at The Eagle. It's haunted by members and ex members of certain bands."
After headlining Ladyfest and a support slot with Vic Godard (Subway Sect), the Poppycock collective are releasing a song called Lizard Man on a 17 track charity compilation for their label, German Shepherd Records, to raise funds for Malawi. Lizard Man, says Una, is "perfect for the season of Samhain/Halloween"...
Meanwhile, she also has a play called Menarche running at Gorse Hill in November, and Poppycock plus other musicians will be playing live music throughout the performances... "It's about the transition from girl to woman" Una explains "which will involve African Dancing and drumming, and Qi Gong Martial arts, amongst other things..."
Then Poppycock return to the Eagle Inn on 21st November for a live show.
Definitely check out Poppycock live for a unique experience and find the compilation when it's released at German Shepherd Records – click here
For further details on Poppycock see the Poppycock Facebook page - click here
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