VUKOVI with support from Knife Bride
at Electric Ballroom in London, UK
words and photos by Claire Hodgkins

“I can’t believe we’ve sold out this bad boy…two months in advance,” cackles Janine Shilstone, bursting at the seams with pride and disbelief. Two years on from the release of sci-fi-infused NULA, VUKOVI headline their biggest show to date where the record will be played in full for the first time. Dedicated fans have flocked to the Camden venue, travelling far and wide for that night that will undoubtedly go down in history.

Joining them are self-proclaimed ‘Nu-Gothika’ newcomers, Knife Bride. Having just opened for tonight’s headliners on a string of German dates, the band; hailing from Brighton, are no strangers to a VUKOVI crowd - boasting how honoured they are to be sharing the stage once again. Just days before the show, the band took to social media to announce the departure of Lauren Wise (backing vocals and synth) from the ensemble, making tonight’s performance a significant one. Now a four-piece band, Knife Bride took everything in their stride and delivered an intense thirty-minute set crammed with tunes from their short, but mighty repertoire. Last year saw the band release their first EP, don’t dream too much, which formed the majority of their set. Tracks ‘sacrifice/surrender’ and ‘smother (make me suffer)’ got the crowd moving, with mosh pits breaking out left right and centre. However, the 2022 hit single ‘FANG DUMMY’ kicked things up a notch and when paired with ‘Permanent Smile’, their set was brought to a perfect close.

A sea of red lighting engulfs the stage as ‘DEPARTURE’ blasts through the speakers. The band file onto the stage one by one, starting with touring drummer Martin Johnson, closely followed by guitarist Hamish Reilly. The venue erupts at the sight of Janine Shilstone, who strolls onto the stage dressed to the nines, clutching a half-full pint that is catapulted into the feral crowd. ‘TAINTED’, the first full-length NULA track, proved to be the perfect set opener, with bodies flailing to and fro. But it’s the hit single ‘LASSO’ that sends fans into a frenzy. Known for their infectious and chaotic live sets, the Glaswegians blaze, their way through back-to-back tunes as the set gradually draws to an emotional pause. ‘SHADOW’ encapsulates VUKOVI’s versatility perfectly. The track heavily features beefy guitar work from Reilly that is only intensified when translated to a live setting and goes hand in hand with Shilstone’s powerhouse vocals. The evening’s highlight comes in the form of ‘SAD’, where a man in the crowd is held upwards by fans as the climax of the track hits. His silhouette is beautifully lit up thanks to the impressive production set-up and much to the delight of Janine and Hamish who are both hysterical. Rounding the set off, newer tracks ‘CREEP HEAT’ and ‘MERCY KILL’ go down a treat, before classic hit ‘La Di Da’ puts the crowd through their paces one last time. Simply put, the atmosphere tonight is electric. After years of putting in the graft, VUKOVI are receiving their flowers - rightly so.

VUKOVI: LONDON, UK

KNIFE BRIDE

VUKOVI