MOUTH CULTURE PLAYS THE FIREBUG IN LEICESTER
FIREBUG — LEICESTER, ENG
Leicester Alternative/Pop Punk trio Mouth Culture invited a bustling, sold-out crowd to Firebug. After playing with You Me At Six on their farewell tour earlier this year, and a tour of their own promoting their EP Mishaps of My Mid Twenties, the boys were back home for an intimate gig in the heart of Leicester. There’s something unique about the atmosphere of a home show, and Mouth Culture’s return on August 19th captured that perfectly. Fellow Leicester band Citrus started the night off, having previously opened for Mouth Culture in November of 2024 at the O2 Academy. Bringing their shoegaze tunes and strong vocals, the future looks bright only one year on from their first-ever headline show.
Following Citrus was London-based band Church of the Rat, who set the stage alight, describing their own music as “apocalypse death punk,” a mix of grungy guitars and loud vocals. They played their new single “End Times Prayer,” which was released last month, and the crowd bounced along. As the guitarist was tuning, lead singer Sam joked, “I should have prepared more stage matter.” As their set came to an end, the energy in the room was hitting the roof.
One of Leicester’s most intimate venues was the perfect place for Mouth Culture to host their Reading & Leeds Festival warm-up show. By the time they took to the stage, the venue had packed out. Opening with their newly released single “Regret 101,” which was produced by You Me At Six’s Max Helyer. Following was the band’s popular track “Sharkbait,” which had the first pits of the night opening up. Only two songs had passed in the sweltering room before the heat was too much for lead singer Jack Voss, leading to his removing his shirt.
Mouth Culture kept the whole night buzzing, flipping between softer moments and bursts of explosive energy that had everyone hooked. The chemistry between them was obvious, and they fed off the audience every step of the way. The setlist was a real crowd pleaser, a mix of new stuff and old favorites, with the always-rowdy “Cherry Red Rage” sending fans into overdrive. In a moment of calm, Voss recalled having played at Firebug during lockdown, an array of tables set up, 2 people at each. “They said you weren’t allowed to stand up or dance or nothing... Well, you can tonight, so let’s make the most of it,” he shouted out, opening up a mosh pit before launching into “Ratbag.” The show ended with the crowd yearning for more, as the band made their way off stage and through the crowd to huge cheers and applause.
Mouth Culture’s passion and energy are undeniable. With appearances lined up at some of the UK’s most iconic festivals, including Reading & Leeds and Slam Dunk, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the band.
