Single Review: Millie Manders & The Shut Up - Shut Your Mouth
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
London-based Millie Manders and The Shutup have been growing a deserved reputation over the pass few years on the back of their tireless touring schedule and devastatingly good live shows. Add to that the quality of the debut album, Telling Truths, Breaking Ties and you have a recipe for success.
With a new record waiting in the wings for a 2024 release, Mille and the crew have been leaking a few advance tracks to wet the whistle in anticipation. First taster, Rebound, came out early in the year and now, Shut Your Mouth will see the light of day after being previewed at Slam Dunk, North-West Calling and Rebellion festivals over the summer.
If you’ve ever caught Mille and the Shutup live you know that they are a full-bloodied entertainment machine. Blending ska punk with a cornucopia of other styles and genres, the band is a guaranteed good time whenever they take to the stage. Shut Your Mouth isn’t looking to cast a doubt on that and, instead begins with some dynamic electronics before dropping into bouncing Ska beats and a snotty Punk attitude.
Millie’s breathless vocal delivery is complimented by the drums and samples of Pete Wright and the bass of the band’s quiet assassin, Georgina. Both give Joe Quigley’s guitar a platform to operate on and he builds some big riffs, especially going into the song’s third act.
I can vouch that the abovementioned festival shows stand as testimony to the Shutup’s understanding of what their audience wants from them. Whether it he the open fields of Temple Newsam, the confines of Manchester’s Academy or the cavernous Casbah in Blackpool, Shut Your Mouth was greeted like an old favourite.
The high-energy skanking, the instantly knowable singalong chorus and the sheer unbridled joy of the delivery mean Shut Your Mouth lands pretty much oven ready. Just pop in for three minutes and thirty-seven seconds and you have a tasty treat everyone can enjoy.
Not content with the three shows already this calendar year, I have an appointment with the band at Manchester’s Bread Shed on Bonfire Night. At this rate, I’m liable to get cautioned for stalking! Having only seen the Shutup in larger venues, I’m so looking forward to watching Millie and co lay waste to a small club.
