PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS
Tramshed, Cardiff - 20th September 2026
Support: Hang Linton, Shlug
"Finally," I thought to myself back in May. "I get to see Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs tonight." Then I checked my email, only to find I'd been sent a message telling me that, due to illness, the band had been forced to cancel! Gutting! But at least it's not cancelled altogether...
Four extremely hot summer months later, and "finally...", Pigsx7 actually made it to Cardiff. My excitement was justified. You see, the Pigs are a very highly rated live proposition, so I was expecting a more eventful Sunday evening than average.
But first, I have to mention opening act, Cardiff's own Shlug. Here's a trio who undoubtedly fit the hardcore punk mould, but have a vocalist who loves whipping the crowd up into a frenzy. During the last track, he handed his guitar to the guy stood next to me and told him to "just play it!" while he darted back to the stage to twiddle knobs on the countless effects pedals he had not just in front of him, but on a table centre stage as well!
I've seen some brilliant support bands in my time, and Shlug have been added to that list.
Also due to play on the bill was the fabulously-named Meryl Streek, who describes himself as "politically-outspoken Irish avant garde punk". I was looking forward to seeing him, being quite fond of his recent two singles. Unfortunately, for unexplained reasons, he pulled out a few days beforehand. Instead, we got "interdisciplinary artist" Hang Linton. It's difficult to know where to place him on the musical spectrum, but perhaps if I said it was political and social polemic set to aggressive electronics and occasional drum & bass beats, it might give you some idea. I wasn't overly taken by him, but to be fair, the Tramshed's sound wasn't the best so maybe I need to listen to his records before I judge too hard.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs is a band I always thought made great music, but who didn't take themselves terribly seriously. I mean, their name is a hint, right? True to form, while you can tell they really mean it when they play, there are plenty of tongues in cheeks. Vocalist Matt Baty's attire is another hint - you'll never see Bono donning brightly-coloured wrestling shorts on stage.
Fortunately, there was nothing garish about the music. Most of 'Death Hilarious' - Pigs' 5th album, released last year - was aired, with The Wyrm, Detroit and Stitches proving to be highlights. The fact there were as many as 11 songs in the set is perhaps an indicator as to how the band have evolved in the 14 years they've been together. The newer songs are shorter and more punchy than the sprawling, psychedelic-doom epics of their earlier work. But this doesn't mean there isn't room for the occasional extended instrumental passage, or a couple of songs that make it past the 8-minute mark (Toecurler).
They may be heavy and loud with a dose of darker-than-dark doom chords thrown in, but there were lighter moments. Matt wasn't afraid to tell us of his disdain about Pigsx7 never being invited to play Download. "You know who did play it last year?" he asked us. "The Venga Boys!" (And before you Google it, yes, it's true.) During the band introductions, he decided to give his bandmates the names of artists who he considered would be more Download friendly - Rick Astley, Peter Andre, Scatman John and Ricky Martin. And then there was the Headbanger Of The Evening competition, which was tied between two guys who had to draw their "prizes" out of a mug. One won a "delicious bag of carrot batons", and the other won "at least three magic tricks performed by (bassist) Johnny."
I'm not always a big fan of the jokey, variety show elements of gigs that some acts engage in, and the headbanging contest segment was a tad too long - we could have had another song instead - but the quality of the Pigs' performance made up for it this time, so they are forgiven.
Terrible photography by TheRobster
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