LIVE FROM THE PIT: Alien Chicks, Pleasureinc and Star City

Who knew blending together jazz, rap, and punk would put you on the radar of many punk fans? The trio Alien Chicks surely do, as they sold out their London show and just came back from their quick European tour, where they supported Lambrini Girls. Hailing from the rough streets of Brixton, the members Stefan Parker-Steele, Josef Lindsay and Martha Daniels started playing together in the iconic The Windmill and are gradually heading for bigger venues.

Alien Chicks are currently headlining over the UK, promoting their newest EP Forbidden Fruit, that came out on 9th May. Supported by Star City and PleasureInc., together they absolutely demolished Oslo Hackney.

The first support of the night, Star City, surprised instantly with a saxophone in their opening track, which did not re-appear until the last song, but absolutely made the crowd enjoy the set from the first second. Being founded in 2024, the band does not have a long history behind them, yet they absolutely captivated the audiences of their home venue with their blend of synth-heavy disco, post punk, techno and acid house and are rapidly becoming one of the prominent artists in their genre across the UK. Gracing Oslo Hackney with some great riffs, complemented by the already mentioned synths, the band swiftly made the floor moving and gained many new listeners in the process.

Right after the warm-up, PleasureInc. took over the stage and were welcomed by a massive applause, which indicated that they were indeed a band many of the fans were excited about. This genre-fluid bomb of energy, disco and hip hop is sure to grab everyone and shake them until the last moment, and that exactly was happening on the dancefloor the whole time. The four-piece always brings that sense of familiarity with their melodies, yet they also bring something new every time they drop a new release, and it is obvious that the founders Jonny Silver and Kenny Pleasures are on the journey to push their boundaries with every live performance, as they also did this night.

After two amazingly selected supports, it was time for Alien Chicks to show the fans what they came for. Although the band started a bit later than supposed to, they were at once bombarded with unstoppable energy and cheering, while getting ready for their set. The atmosphere accumulated in that small room was completely out of this world, as the distinctive sound of Martha’s drums echoed throughout the space, Stefan’s bassline pulsated in ears and Josef’s explosive guitar work captivated the audience. With Stefan’s signature jumps every now and then, combined with the ongoing moshpit on the floor, it was a sight that surely is unforgettable. At some point during the set, fans started jumping onto the stage and sometimes sing with their favourites, only to crowdsurf right after, making it a wonderful experience from the back of the venue. It was hard to say goodbye after the last song, but that did not stop the members of the band to jump into the crowd, making it an iconic closure of one of the best nights ever.

The night was an absolute blast and the chosen support bands were a great choice, as they were both similar with their own music to the headliner. Although the floor felt really packed at the times, which is expected at a sold out show, it was fascinating to watch the crowd and the bands become one, and enjoying their time together. The evening surely was an iconic moment in Alien Chicks’s career, that they and their fans will cherish for many years to come.

Words and photos: Katerina Stepanikova