Written by Sadie Rycraft

“Performing with nothing short of confident angst, Porridge Radio made their audience witnesses to a ferocious testimony of their musicianship, on what was otherwise a calm, rainy Sunday evening.”

Performing with nothing short of confident angst, Porridge Radio made their audience witnesses to a ferocious testimony of their musicianship, on what was otherwise a calm, rainy Sunday evening. Gracing The Baths in Ipswich, with support from jazzy-art-pop six-piece ALASKALASKA, Porridge Radio delivered a wholly emotive performance - or rather an experience - to a sold-out crowd.

Made up of frontperson and guitarist Dana Margolin, keyboardist Georgie Stott, bassist Maddie Ryall and drummer Sam Yardley, the band played a 15-song set that touched on both of the group’s most recent albums while including a handful of stray singles. Opening with one of their most popular tracks, 2020 single ‘7 Seconds’ that is guided by Stott’s synths, their set slowly burns into the merciless, chaotic escapism that many fans will have been anticipating.

In the first half of the set list, the repeated lyrics of Splintered ‘I’d do anything for you’ and ‘don’t cut me out’ are juxtaposed with the following song, Birthday Party, in which Margolin beckons ‘I don’t wanna be loved’ over and over again, with increasing passion and fury, the voice of somebody referencing previous heartbreak; or perhaps reaching out to all of those who have been disappointed and deceived by the promises of adulthood.

Margolin, talking about her music, said that she “wanted it to sound like when your heart breaks so badly that your entire body aches”, and both her wordsmithery and presence prove that this conceptual muse delivers exhilarating anthems time and time again. Porridge Radio’s stage presence is truly electric with gentle, ethereal sounds growing into the increasingly frenzied shouts from Margolin. The audience is left in the wake of the crafted chaos that their fierce records create, and still desperately wanting more.

Yet, there are moments of humour. Margolin is met by a stray comment during a quiet moment between songs, as a voice can be heard softly saying ‘I think it’s national porridge day today’. Amongst scattered laughter, she says, ‘is that why you’re all here? I’m sorry to disappoint!’ before the next song erupts.

Seeing The Baths filled with a sold out crowd, dancing and singing in the midst of the fury that back-to-back tracks like Lilac and The Rip create, brings great excitement to the local music scene, and promises that there is more to come.

ALASKALASKA, described as an ‘outlier’ without need for musical categorisation, blend jazz infused art-pop with disco, funk and R&B. Saxophone solos allude to an underlayer of sensuality in their genre-hopping sound. They boast etherealness with a hit of turbulence, and warmed the crowd up admirably, the (somewhat) calm before the storm.

Porridge Radio have possibly perfected the art of emotionally charged musical climaxes, with repeated lyrics acting as mantras that soundtrack heartbreak and despondency. There is a notable difference between the energy in album recordings and live performances with Porridge Radio - for those who have only heard recordings it may be difficult to imagine Margolin’s presence being any more momentous, but I can assure you it is. The entire band is made up of incredibly skilled artists, and their Mercury Prize nomination is evidence that their acutely intense records are as hard-hitting as they are successful.

While characterised by melodramatic lyrics such as ‘I think I’m dying every time I get upset’, as well as ones like ‘the top of my lungs’ while Margolin literally sings with her entire lung capacity and enormity, Porridge Radio ultimately demonstrate an authentic narrative on navigating difficult stages in one's life. The lyrics ‘I don't want to get bitter, I want us to get better, I want us to be kinder to ourselves and to each other’ echoed charmingly amidst the crowd, while the band left a lasting impression of the brilliance of their craftsmanship.