Live Review: Laura Jane Grace - Waterfront, Norwich
30th March 2025
Support: Bratakus, Muntjax
Words & Photos: Tom Atkin
It's a bit of a change up for this evening, an emo/punk night in small venue and still something to look forward to! Hosted upstairs at the Waterfront tonight, fans know it is going to be a close up experience and always a fun time when they are packed in to this space.
First up this evening we have Norwich’s own MuntJax. An emo/pop punk band that are about two years deep into their career now. Every ounce of energy that they put in is blasted out with a great amount of passion. They knew that there were people in the room that had not heard of them before, and that they had to make that great first impression. And that they did, developing a connection with the crowd in a way that only emo bands can. They performed incredibly well, lyrics that have meaning along with guitars that ring back to a time when the genre was at its peak.
Next up we have Scottish punk rockers Bratakus. A group of sisters that were brought up in the realm of DIY punk, brash and raw., yet also strangely polite.
From the word go you can feel the intensity in their music, it is punk in its truest form (although accompanied by a drum machine, that was drunk apparently - IYKYK). Unapologetic about the noise they make as they stir up the crowd from the emo offering prior. This change of pace has hit the spot with the attendees, with the crowd starting to bunch up together more.
There is no letting up from the sisters as they put on what sometimes feels like a protest on stage, you can feel their opinions on politics throughout the lyrics, and they are delivered in a way that shows how much heart they put into what they are throwing in your face. The crowd seemed to adore every minute of this set, and you can see why. An audience that is already heading to a punk rock show getting treated to a lesser known band that can kick it just as well as some of the greats.
And now for the main event, Laura Jane Grace. Much like the rest of the artists tonight, she nonchalantly takes to the stage and those who don’t know her music would not expect what is about to happen.
For an artist that is used to playing much bigger venues, Laura is not phased a single bit by this evenings small surroundings. The crowd is here for it, they have now properly bunched up towards the front and there is a wide age gap amongst them, people that look like your regular ol’ desk worker through to the very obvious old school punks.
Opening with 'Walls'the mood was set early, Laura's voice managing to carry both a soft and a gritty tone at the same time. This song eases everyone in, and I imagine is followed by another song from her time as Laura Jane Grace in the Trauma Tropes, 'WWIII Revisted', giving everyone the reminder that this is going to be a punk rock show.
Having been a centre point of several musical projects over the years means the catalogue of songs that Laura can dip in to is extensive, each branch with it's own unique sound, but yet still retaining the core feeling that she provides to everything that she is part of. We have Laura Jane Grace, LJG in the Trauma Tropes, LJG and the Mississippi Medicals and then of course Against Me!. The latter I suspect being the main draw for the majority of people in here tonight.
The traditionally punk songs are fast and short. Thus the crowd gets a melded experience, chopping and changing through different periods of time in Laura’s career. Each one sang with the same passion thats been consistent through out her set. It is testament to the whole band, being able to comfortably smash out songs that feel like folk punk such as 'Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong' effortlessly transitioning into the crowd sing along of 'Walking Is Still Honest'.
Theres also space to throw in some covers as well, an exceptional cover of Rowland S. Howards 'Silver Chain' along with paying homage to The Ramones with a great tribute to 'Howling At The Moon'. Being punk and the short length of her songs we have a mammoth set, twenty eight songs in total. Every single song feels purposeful, grabbing the fans attention no matter what era of Laura’s career they discovered her in.
This show has been a complete joy, it felt like it belonged in this smaller part of the Waterfront. Gritty, close, and personal. Providing a space for everyone to connect, no judgements just a good fun Punk show.
Photo Credit: Tom Atkin
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