Trying to watch my pennies, I saw online that Gina Birch and the Unreasonables would be playing at the 100 Club. My fingers itched to buy a ticket. But the sensible part of my brain (buried deep and often ignored) said, “No, don’t buy a ticket—you only saw her live in July…” That was that—or so I thought. Then, a few days before the gig, I was CC’d on an email: “Does anyone want to review Gina at the 100 Club…?” Surely this was destiny. Getting to see a punk icon (again) in a legendary venue? This was an email I couldn’t ignore.
So, I found myself outside the 100 Club on an autumny Wednesday evening (a school night—see what I mean about the sensible part of my brain?). The last time I’d been there was 2011, when I saw Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. The 100 Club has a brilliant punk history, but it’s also becoming important in my personal gig-going history—for seeing powerful, rule-breaking women I admire.
Beyond the immediate joy of the gig, seeing Gina Birch live is a reminder of her pivotal role in punk history. As a founding member of The Raincoats, she helped lay the groundwork for the Riot Grrrl movement and inspired countless feminist and DIY musicians around the world. Her fearless approach to music, politics, and performance continues to resonate today, shaping generations of artists who refuse to play by the rules and make space for women and marginalized voices in punk and indie music.
Gina Birch may be a punk legend, but she and her backing band—the Unreasonables—are unbelievably down-to-earth. The set was fantastic, but what made it even more special was how they embraced their flaws. The first song, “Doom Monger” from the latest album Trouble, had to be restarted, and later, I overheard Gina asking for a reminder of a song’s opening line.
The set featured almost all the songs from Trouble, including personal favourite “Causing Trouble Again,” with joyful audience participation of shouting “TROUBLE!” in all the right places. Equal joy came from “I Thought I’d Live Forever,” a song about aging but also about living life to the fullest—“I wanna be alive, ALIVE!”
There were also songs from the previous album I Play My Bass Loud. The brilliant “Feminist Song” (“when they ask me if I’m a feminist, I say why the hell would I not be”) stood out, and there was an unforgettable moment—whether during that song or “Causing Trouble Again,” I can’t quite remember—when projected on the wall behind her was 3 Minute Scream, the video of Gina screaming back in 1977, artwork that became synonymous with the Women In Revolt exhibition at the Tate Modern. It was powerful—the punk spirit still alive despite her approaching 70. (She later mentioned her birthday was in 10 days, quipping that she’s a Libra with an Aquarius rising before self-deprecatingly telling herself to shut up.)
They finished with the catchy “I Play My Bass Loud,” and then, in a super-meta moment, played The Raincoats’ version of The Kinks’ “Lola,” ending the set to a huge round of applause. I left with a big smile—impossible not to feel happy when you hear their joyful, cheeky (how could I forget “I Will Never Wear Stilettos”—my new personal anthem) music. This is punk feminist joy at its finest, and I am in.
Gina Birch and The Unreasonables are touring North America next and you can find the dates here
Gina Birch’s latest album ‘Trouble’ is out now, buy it here
Gina Birch Socials-Instagram
Review and Photos by Hayley Foster da Silva
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads | Mailing List