Photo Credit: Emily Howarth
Words: Andrew Nile
On a rare dry night in February, LA hardcore band Militarie Gun arrived in Portsmouth and filled the city’s small 300-capacity Kola for their second UK show on the EU/UK tour. With last year’s God Save The Gun still fresh and firmly lodged in fans’ rotation, anticipation was high.
Opening the night were the UK’s own, The Tubs. On paper, this pairing felt slightly left-field given the sharp contrast in sound. But any early scepticism was quickly washed away amid sharp hooks, infectious energy, and a steady stream of dry humour between songs. The Tubs warmed the room perfectly, leaving the packed-out crowd primed and ready for the main event.
Militarie Gun eventually took to the stage with frontman Ian Shelton wasting no time in pulling the crowd into a call-and-response intro of God Save The Gun’s “B A D I D E A”. Playfully calling out what he deemed a surprisingly lukewarm first attempt before demanding more. The second time around, Kola delivered, and then the band dove straight into the full track.
The energy spike was instant. The crowd rushed forward, bodies pressing tighter to the barrier, belting along to a song that’s already cemented itself as a fan favourite.
The night’s setlist struck a faultless balance between the past and the present. New favourites from God Save The Gun, including “Fill Me With Paint,” sat effortlessly alongside deeper cuts from Life Under The Gun and All Roads Lead to The Gun. Nothing felt forced, tracks from all eras of their sound flowing together seamlessly, reinforcing just how cohesive Militarie Gun’s catalogue has become.
“Do It Faster” and “Very High” proved particularly explosive, triggering the biggest reactions of the night as punters vaulted the barrier without hesitation, launching themselves into the heaving crowd.
Despite the night’s unrelenting energy, the set carved out space for something a little softer. Mid-set, Ian strapped on an acoustic guitar and dialled the room down for a more restrained run of songs, instantly shifting the atmosphere. In a genuinely moving moment, Ian dedicated “Daydream” to his late grandfather, who passed away just before the band set off on this tour. The performance offered a rare hush inside Kola before the distortion kicked back in, and the second half of the set pushed on with renewed intensity.
Bringing the night full circle, Militarie Gun returned once again to “B A D I D E A” to close the set. Where the opening rendition had required a little prodding from Ian to get the crowd suitably hyped, this time there was no hesitation. People were immediately launching themselves off the barrier and reaching for the mic.
If you have a chance to see Militarie Gun on this UK run, take it. They may have only been 2 nights into their UK stint, but they are well and truly locked in, and the Portsmouth crowd gave all of their energy. It’s incredible how well the new material sits alongside older tracks, given the distinct tonal shift between releases, but Militarie Gun have perfectly crafted their setlist to cover all eras of their sound, a feat many other bands would struggle to pull off.
Taped Magazine 