UK-based band, Joanna Gruesome — yes, it is a play on Joanna Newsom — have finally made it over to the United States, starting their US tour off with a sold-out show. The band played Oakland’s premier punk venue and record store, 1-2-3-4 Go!. The heaving-hitting dream pop band released their first album via Slumberland Records last November — with wide acclaim.

The show opened with Hard Left, an Oakland based, politico-punk band featuring members of Manatee, then Tony Molina, a San Francisco punk band with Weezer-esque guitar solos and droning vocals worthy of a Ramones song.

The dim warehouse space adjacent to the record store was completely filled once Joanna Gruesome arrived on stage. The younger band was refreshingly confident and natural in their performance, poking fun at typical stage commentary, announcing “we’re in Oakland,” followed by customary applause. They played favourites from Weird Sister (2013), including “Sugarcrush” and “Wussy Void.” The band announced, and played a track from, their not-yet released split with Trust Fund. Between moments of energetic jamming and lulls of cooing vocals and pensive, repeating guitar riffs, the band put on a great live performance.

Check out our photo set from last Wednesday’s show, stream Weird Sister, and see Joanna Gruesome at one of their upcoming east coast tour dates below:

08/26 Brooklyn, NY – Shea Stadium*
08/27 Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair*
08/28 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church*
08/29 New York, NY – South Street Seaport^
08/30 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel*

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