Review by Scott Hays
Social Youth Cult converting the masses with a sound that’s dark, cold, and utterly compelling.
Their live shows? Expect energy. Proper, unbridled energy. They swing from distorted, high-octane blasts to brooding, atmospheric slow-burners, all delivered with a commitment that’ll get a crowd moving. With tracks like “Black Lipstick (Clings to Me)” buzzing with an immediate, response from the crowd, front man Shaun Greer rolls around the stage like the love child of Iggy Pop and Ian Curtis. Social Youth Cult are proving they’re more than just a nod to the past; they’re the future of bleak, brilliant noise.
Vision Video: The Goth-Pop Saviours We Deserve
Forget dusty old records; their recent gigs are where the magic truly explodes. They’re not just playing songs; they’re pulling you into their wonderfully dark, energetic world. This isn’t just a band; it’s an experience.
Up front, Dusty Gannon, our self-proclaimed “goth dad,” is pure, unadulterated charisma. He’s got that rare knack for making a massive room feel like a pub session, dropping anti-war, anti-Trump, anti-fascist diatribes between tracks. It’s not forced, it’s not fake and it is so very much needed in this messed up world we find ourselves in. Backed by relentless drumming and a resonant gutteral throbbing bass, Vision Video live is a full-throttle assault on your senses.
The live sound has more urgency and edge than what’s on record. That signature gothic melancholy is still there, but cranked up with a raw, almost punk-rock urgency. Tracks explode with a new energy that’s less polished, more primal. A vital, sweat-soaked communion. Go see them. Now.
