Swallow the Rat, Memory Foam & Warm Leather – Whammy Bar: May 23, 2025
Swallow the Rat kicked off their Aotearoa tour tonight, releasing a new EP – Face Unpopular, and also announcing an 18-date tour of Europe in September. With fellow Tamaki Makaurau post-punker Memory Foam on the bill, an evening of riffs, rhythms and raciousness lay ahead for 13th Floor Reviewer Simon Coffey.
Flux acts on waves for Swallow the Rat, as again the band’s lineup is reshaped. A comrade steps back and a new comrade joins the fray. With the decision of singer/bassist Stephen Horsley to prioritise whanau and future, StR have again changed lineup, with new member Jimmy Coldham (Coffin Club, BURDENZ) coming onboard (for the local and international tours – BONUS!) Tonight’s show lineup is a cracker, even with the late change, and Whammy Bar is the veritable punk-rock dive to experience Tamaki Makaurau’s counter-culture royalty, it’s fullish early, and DJ BRNT ZA (Guardian Singles) is delivering the bangers, though everybody is way too pai to dance.
Warm Leather
Were the cavalry tonight, as SCRAN, originally part of the lineup, had to, at the last minute, withdraw due to illness, kindly giving Warm Leather another shot at stardom. Though as I arrive a Warm Leather member is being checked out by a paramedic on K’Rd. There is talk of a stand up show by the Tollster, but ultimately hopes are dashed, and the member is released back into the wild.
The audience clutters to the front and Andrew Tolley (guitar/Vox) starts the proceedings. There is a degree of increased finesse tonight, the band are creating space and increased sonic reaction, as they mahi their way through a modest set. New (well perhaps recent) addition Katie on bass, is high in the mix, I’m not complaining the vibe is of reciprocality between the three. It feels like the folk in Warm Leather have found their sangfroid place. Drummer JP, is fussed over, and with his allies aroha, delivers. Perhaps a few new songs? A couple of them really get the groove going.
Memory Foam
Released a striking and slightly sensical single last March, Hangry (Sushi Train), tempting, teasing future muzik releases and live shows. A small “wahoo” eclipsed from my mouth whence they were added to tonight’s show. It had been far too long since I’ve seen this synth-psych-punk five piece, fronted by haunting vocalist Yuko Miyoshi.
Guitarist Sam Moore is regaled in a stunning Obituary tshirt, I’m impressed. This five piece, not easily boxed, perhaps a modicum of Hawkwind, a touch of Black Flag and a snifter of Ari Up (The Slits) are not for the comfortably numb (i.e. those seeing Voom next door) Onstage there is symbiotics between Yuko and theremin-meister Samantha Webb, (beyond just shared vocals) In a set of narratives, Yuko creates theatre onstage, intro-ing most songs, teasing, attempting to transcend the audience/band continuum.
There are fabulous basslines, manic drum excerpts and finesse guitar. The use of theremin adds texture to the aural, while visually it’s just cool! Memory Foam played many songs tonight, it’s been a while since they played Whammy Bar. Two songs in particular heed; Hangry (Sushi Train) and Motherfucker, those are the memories I took away.
Swallow The Rat
Swallow The Rat have actually played two shows already with their new comrade, but this is my rite of passage. I’d checked out the Face Unpopular EP already, and with my last memories of seeing them, back in December 24 when they opened for Mannequin Pussy (with Horsley playing his last show with them) fast-fading, I felt spik and span, for an experience (as far as a opiniated past-it ex95bFM DJ can be)
While Face Unpopular was recorded with past members, the songs from it feature tonight as does a seemingly strategic array of past triumphs. There is little banter, though new member Jimmy Coldham gets a shout-out midset. Swallow The Rat takes a few tunes to warm up, and noticeably, the bassline sounds darker, perhaps tuned down a little. Guitarist Brian Purington has his arsenal of pedals on display, and crouched over, bent slightly for most of the night, delivering his orchestral-like onslaught of deft subtlety and organic offensives with guitar-precision. Meanwhile drummer/vocalist Hayden Fritchley, a maestro on the skins, also had the honorific added mahi of leading vocals on all songs, which took moments to align with, though Coldham voraciously supported with backing vocals.
Ae! Change has come, but there is light. Fritchley and Purington stoic skills allayed any concerns for me tonight, and the efforts of Coldham are starting to pay off. Perhaps a lack of live shows is showing for the band. Post their current Aotearoa tour, and certainly after their European jaunt, it will be fortuitous to see them once again, and see how well the trio have melded together as a tight unit.
Simon Coffey
Swallow The Rat:
Memory Foam:
Warm Leather:
