C.O.F.F.I.N @ the Hare & Hounds, 21st May 2024
C.O.F.F.I.N are currently touring the UK & Europe in support of their most recent release ‘Australia Stops’, Tuesday evening saw the band headline the Hare & Hounds in Birmingham.
Formed in 2005, the punk four piece originate from Sydney and this show acted as the first of their UK run. Opening the show were local band The Butters Aliens.
To call a drummer a frontman feels quite strange as he was most certainly sat at the back, but the band is led by lead vocalist and drummer Ben Portnoy who was fantastic in both his playing ability but also continually providing vocals throughout as well as interacting with the packed crowd throughout the performance. Portnoy was supplemented by two guitarists and a bassist at the front, all of whom were passionate and engaging in their live performance.
Musically the band are most certainly based in punk, with high tempo rhythm and sing along melodies making them a truly entertaining live outfit. With most of the material drawing from their most recent fifth album ‘Australia Stops’, the band also treated the audience to a cover of ‘Riff Raff’ from AC/DC. There was rarely a moment for breath within the performance, as the relentless driving rhythm kept the
set moving at pace throughout. The crowd took some time to warm up as the evening progressed, perhaps many people deciding to check the band out rather than being avid fans previously. That’s except for the guy with a C.O.F.F.I.N tattoo across his chest of course. For a venue of the Hare & Hounds 2 size, what was fantastic was the sound that the band created that’s usually akin to venues much bigger.
Review by Dan EarL
Feature image by Alexander Cooke courtesy of PR.
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