Los Angeles psychedelic goth-punk trio L.A. WITCH captivated a sold out MOTH Club in London as part of their UK/EU tour in support of their tour-de-force third album DOGGOD, released on Suicide Squeeze Records in April 2025.
Opening with the high tempo ‘Drive Your Car’ from their self-titled debut album, the enthusiastic crowd were in for a treat as they made their way through most of the latest album and threw in some classics, from both their debut album and 2020 follow-up Play with Fire.
Sade Sanchez (guitar/vocals), Irita Pai (bass), and Ellie English (drums) were joined by French musician Tara Clamart from The Telescopes and Yar on keys and guitar, a welcome addition that added to the textural layers of sound that signifies their sound.
The new album was recorded in Paris, which seems to have brought out the more gothic, post-punk side to their music on songs such as recent lead single ‘777’, where the band delves into the sacrificial and devotional nature of love.
As Sade explained,
Recorded at Motorbass studios in Paris, 777 is considered to be an “angel” number. It’s a song about the willingness to die for love in the process of serving it or suffering for it.
Live the song comes to life as Sade’s non-chalant melodic vocals reminiscent of both Joy Division‘s Ian Curtis and Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, layer of top of Ellie’s frantic drums and Irita’s hypnotic bass.
Other highlights included previous LOUD WOMEN’s single of the week ‘The Lines’, melding post punk rhythms with chorus effects giving the song an almost other-wordly feel, whilst underpinned by Irita’s driving bass.
Title track, DOGGOD kicks off with a searing guitar riff and a raw rhythmic energy which harkens back to their previous album, whilst the blending perfectly with the lyrics about the total nature of submission, as Sade sings
Hang me on a leash, I wait for my release
The set ended in a wash of feedback on Play with Fire‘s ‘Starred’, after one of many intricate guitar solos from Sade throughout the set, showcasing her expert axe-wielding on top of her melodic vocals.
The vocally appreciative packed-out crowd danced and enjoyed themselves to the max and like me can’t wait for these particular LA witches to return and cast more spells on us.
Catch them live:
27/9 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix
29/9 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
30/9 – Cologne, DE @ MTC Club
1/10 – Berlin, DE @ Casseopia
2/10 – Prague, CZ @ Bike Jesus
3/10 – Wiesbaden, DE @ Kesselhaus
4/10 – Munich, DE @ Backstage Club
5/10 – Graz, AT @ Postgarage
6/10 – Vienna, AT @ B72
7/10 – Bologna, IT @ Covo Club
8/10 – Milan, IT @ Caramello @ Arci Belezza
9/10 – Zurich, CH @ The Music Cafe
Follow L.A. Witch on instagram | X | youtube | bandcamp | website
Openers Dogviolet, set the tone for the show, as they opened with the mesmeric chants of ‘Fig Leaves’, over a drone guitar and opening lines;
Punishment, Guilt and Shame
The London-based melodic grunge four-piece consisting of Naz Toorabally (lead vocals, guitar) and Ella Patenall (lead guitar, vocals) Lauren Allpress (drums) Brodie McBride (bass), comfortably owned the stage and warmed-up the audience, despite mentioning that it was their first show at MOTH Club.
Highlights included debut single ‘Violets’, about queer awakening, where Naz’s vocals take you back to The Cranberries in their prime, whilst Ella’s melodic post-punk guitar lines weave throughout the song, and rocky upcoming single ‘Now’ out in October.
They ended their set with the anthemic song ‘Daughter’, which Naz explained was for eldest daughter’s everywhere.
Follow Dogviolet: website | instagram | facebook | youtube | bandcamp
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