Jools

On Wednesday, 25 February, the punk rock collective Jools will be performing at The Hope & Ruin here in Brighton. This show is a stop on their headline UK tour, which they are using to showcase tracks from their debut album, Violent Delights. The group has been active since early 2023 and operates as a six-piece, with Mitch Gordon and Kate Price sharing vocal duties, Chris Johnston and Callum Connachie on guitars, Joe Dodd on bass, and Chelsea Wrones on drums. Their live sets have gained a bit of a reputation for being visceral and unpredictable, often leaning into a chaotic energy that feels quite different from a standard pub gig.

Their sound is difficult to pin down to a single genre, as they intentionally blend post-punk and shoegaze with elements of metal, rap, and even pop. This "duality by design" is something they lean into heavily, often using spoken word sections and a theatrical stage presence to get their point across. You can definitely pick up on influences from the likes of Iggy Pop, PJ Harvey, and Patti Smith, but they package it in a way that feels specific to their own collective identity. It’s a style that seems designed to challenge the usual prejudices people might have about punk music, focusing on an exultant but messy delivery.

The night is set to run from 20:00 until 23:00, making it a fairly standard mid-week schedule for the venue. It is important to remember that this is an 18+ event, so age restrictions will be in place at the door. If you are looking to head down, tickets are being sold through AXS and the band’s official website. Seeing them in a space like The Hope & Ruin provides a specific kind of atmosphere that suits their aesthetic, especially as they transition from being a new name in 2023 to touring a full-length album across the country.