Elliot Grimmie was on hand to see two punk groups in their element

On the final date of the UK leg of their European tour, American punk outfit Surfbort find themselves shoreside in Margate’s most happening independent hybrid record store and live music space; Elsewhere.

Opening the night is local flavour Pink Suits, who’ve quickly become one of Margate’s most prominent queerpunk bands following the release of their debut record ‘Political Child’ last year. Playing a set full of songs, old and new, they gather whoops and cheers with their inspiring and critical lyricisms centred around existing as LGBTQIA+ persons in the UK.

“This song is called ‘A Comprehensive Breakdown Of How Trickle Down Economics Works”, guitar and vocalist Lennie exclaims to the room. The crowd waits, silent in anticipation… would this be another rock n roll number in the set like ‘Fake Great Britain’? Or would we be served a more vicious, punk serving? After a moment's pause, the duo strike a single note of their instruments in unison, before yelling into their microphones; “IT DOESN’T!”, before introducing the next song. Brilliant.

The band treat us to a rare play-through of what Lennie tells us is their parents’ (who were in attendance for their 29th anniversary) favourite song; ‘3am’. before the pair smashed a cover of The Linda Lindas ‘Racist, Sexist Boy’ and closed with the rhythmic, be yourself anthem ‘Pink Suits Everyone’.

“What time is it?”, Surfbort guitarist Alex Kilgore asks. It was two minutes to nine. “I think that means it’s time to play then” he remarks, as the rest of the band join him onstage, guitar feedback ringing from the amplifiers as the band prepare to launch into motion. The band rocket through track after track as vocalist Dani Miller dances around the stage, locking eyes with members of the crowd and making heart shapes with her fingers as people sing along to ‘Les Be In Love’.

“At one point, she performs an entire track clutching a jug of water, due to the rest of the band starting a track before she had expected”

— Elliot Grimmie

At one point, she performs an entire track clutching a jug of water, due to the rest of the band starting a track before she had expected. During another she jumps offstage and joins the people at the front, bouncing around the ferocious yet fun punkish noise, before turning to her bandmates, telling them; “I’m pretending I’m here to watch you guys”. “BOO, YOU SUUUUCK!” Dani jests, before hopping back up onstage.

The atmosphere remains playful and friendly, as the band members smile, fist bump and high five members of the audience throughout the night. “Do you want a slow song or a fast song?” Dani asks the crowd to a resounding response of “A FAST SONG”.

The band manage to cram 19 songs into their 45 minute blistering punk set, but with so many standout moments throughout the show it still feels as though they’ve delivered a hefty headline show.

From letting a fan have a go on the mic, to posing for the photographers, community spirit runs high tonight, and yet the presence of the band balances the line between larger than life, bombastic euphoria and relatable, familiar, utterly welcoming kinship.

Dani’s crowd interaction is relentless, despite how fast the band are rocketing through their setlist; before late in the set track ‘Killed By Food’ is played, in which Alex provides backing vocals to bolster the ferocity of the tracks punchline, she tells the room that she had fish and chips before the show. When in Britain, eh?

As the band disembark the stage, thanking people for coming to the show with hugs and handshakes and tremendous appreciation, it’s strikingly apparent the band are grateful to each and every member of the audience who came down to the show tonight.

Surfbort played the night as if they were headlining a crowd ten thousand strong, and yet they still found the time to get down and dirty with each and every person they could lock eyes with, delivering nothing less than a fantastically fun and memorable performance that could easily be one of Elsewhere’s best bookings to date.