NEWS: Cocaine Piss @ Sage Gateshead

Although they’ve played the North East twice before, the latest visit from Cocaine Piss on Monday 6^th May feels like a show with added significance. The choice of venue is, to say the least, a striking one, and reflects Sage Gateshead’s commitment to opening its doors to alternative scenes; challenging its perception as a space where formality reigns. Certainly, there’s nothing polite about this gratuitously named Liège quartet, who arrive hot on the heels of Passionate & Tragic, their fierce Steve Albini produced second album. Clocking in at 20 minutes (lead single My Cake lasts all of 44 seconds…), it’s a record that’ll do nothing to quell their frenzied live shows, setting Aurélie Poppins’ wild multilingual performances to a thrilling, often blunt-edged noise punk barrage.

Underlining its bold, confrontational mantra, the show also features Sage debuts from two North East acts bearing similarly brazen styles and socio-political messages. Sharing the headliners’ visceral sonic approach, Blóm will be making their first local appearance of 2019 – and potentially their last before committing their blistering bass and drum assault to a maiden full-length. Opening the show are Billingham’s Mouses, whose rabble-rousing DIY anthems continue to snare hearts and are sure to boost proceedings with a welcome injection of singalong exuberance. Be there.