Following the release of their ferocious new album ‘Drunk Tank Pink,’ Shame returned to our screens for their Live in the Flesh mockumentary. The video shared footage from the band’s first live performance since the beginning of lockdown, recorded in collaboration with Molten Jets and Intergalactic Studios.
The footage opens at Electric Brixton, with a group of ‘fans’ waiting for a £240 meet and greet session. It shows the highlights of being in a band, particularly drinking the only things left in the venue (alcopops) and the joys of watching The Weakest Link. The video showcases hyperbolic stereotypes of the kinds of people you meet in the music industry, including a band manager who preaches that Reading Festival 2012 was the best weekend of his life, and particularly strange fans. (Yes, we’re talking about the man rubbing baby oil into his head.)
“It’s a funny thing, rock and roll, you see. It never dies. It’s been gone for three years, but now we’re back.”
– Charlie Steen, lead vocals
The exclusive video was available to people who were ‘honourable enough’ to have pre-ordered their new album.
Surely it must be unnerving to perform your brand new album in an empty venue, without being able to see whether the set is going well? Shame delivered a slick and punchy performance, to the same standard as their regular concerts. Vocalist Charlie Steen has illustrated his ability to captivate an audience, whether they be stood amongst friends, or sat in their bedroom.
The set was amazingly difficult to take your eyes off, particularly due to the increasingly strange merchandise advertisements on-screen after each song. ‘Born in Luton’ and ‘Water in the Well’ are amazing tracks to launch into a live show, and an even bigger reinforcer to buy the new album. The band performs live as though this was a regularly scheduled event, as though they had been touring the album for months. Additionally, it is strange to see bassist Josh Finerty so static, this due to the presence of striking backing vocals throughout the initial two tracks. Thankfully, diving into the faster track ‘Harsh Degrees’ illustrated his ability to bounce off the stage’s metaphorical walls. The siren-like guitar melody paired with fast and angry drums makes it sound like this track will be amazing to hear live, and even better to dance to.
Despite nearly not being included on the album, ‘6/1‘ is a massive track. Contrasting lyrics ‘I hate myself but I love myself’ share anger and rage, contrary to the humorous ‘I promise I’m six foot tall.’ Steen’s erratic dancing is the cherry on top of a particularly striking track, with the five-piece proving they’re not just another shouty bunch of lads.
Steen’s angry charisma makes you forget that the band are playing to an empty room. You get the feeling that sitting on a sofa with the vocalist would be a nightmare, with his seemingly never-ending energy. There are only a handful of vocalists who could preach that they are god, but his forceful nonchalance has proven that really, he can do what he wants.
“I pray to no god / I am god / I am every thought your mind has ever held / I prevent nothing / And nothing prevented me.”
– 6/1
Bringing it down a level, ‘Human For a Minute’ gives the band time to get their breath back. The mellow and melodic track brings the energy down, with intricate shots of toe-tapping and less unpredictable dancing.
‘And I’m half the man I should be / I’m half the man I should be / Can’t you see?’
– Human, For a Minute
Closing their performance with ‘Snow Day,’ the dry spoken vocals emphasise the punchy lyrics and bouncy main guitar melody. It’s clear the show is coming to the end, with Steen jumping from the stage into the ‘crowd.’ Throughout the half hour performance, you’ve forgotten the fact that there are only five people stood in the audience, rather than the venue’s regular two thousand.
Setlist:
