Rocker (feedbot)
Platinum Member
The Black Heart is already close to boiling point by the time doors properly open. Camden on a Friday night is chaotic enough, but inside the venue there’s a different kind of anticipation: the sort that comes from a line-up built for noise, sweat and very little standing still. PENGSHUi have always thrived in small rooms, and tonight feels like home turf.
First up are Dog Rotten, who waste no time getting stuck in. Their sound leans into gritty punk and grime influences, delivered with a rough-edged confidence that suits the room. There’s no fussing with introductions; they simply open fire and let momentum do the rest. The crowd respond quickly, some already pushing forward and testing the edges of a pit before the set has even reached its halfway point. Dog Rotten might not have the sharpest presentation, but that’s part of the appeal. They come across like a band who want to get their hands dirty, and the audience happily meet them in the middle.
Tuggawar follows and immediately shifts the atmosphere. He turns up wearing sunglasses, which would risk seeming detached if he weren’t so quick to wade into the crowd. Backed by a surprisingly tight live band, he delivers a set packed with heavy, rhythmic tracks that land well with the front rows, who are fully on board from the start. At one point, he drops a riff from Eminem’s ‘Without Me’, which earns a ripple of laughter and recognition before the room settles back into moving as one. There’s an easy confidence to Tuggawar. He’s energetic without trying too hard, engaged without being overly earnest. By the end, he’s got the entire venue bouncing, and it feels like he’s only just getting warmed up when his set wraps up.
Once PENGSHUi take over, the temperature somehow climbs further. The first track barely begins before a pit opens, and a crowd surfer appears almost immediately. ‘Let’s Go’ and ‘No Time’ both hit with real weight, helped along by a room that seems intent on matching them beat-for-beat. The band offer bottles of water to the front rows, which is needed; even from the back, you can see the heat rising in waves. Not everything goes smoothly – a brief scuffle breaks out during the second song, though it’s dealt with quickly. MC Illaman calls it out – “all love, no bad energy” – the tension evaporates, to be replaced by the same good-natured chaos as before. The band keep the atmosphere steady without slowing the pace, a balance that demonstrates just how comfortable they are working this kind of crowd.
One of the night’s highlights comes when they bring Tuggawar back onstage. PENGSHUi usually switch into a drum and bass or dubstep section at this point, but tonight they lean into a grime-focused stretch instead. It brings a fresh spike of energy that feels more like an organic collaboration than a planned cameo, and audience lap it up. Between songs, PENGSHUi are generous with their thanks. “You are our press campaign”, they tell the crowd, half-amused but clearly sincere. Later, they add: “You made all this possible.” It never crosses into sentimentality; it simply reflects the reality of a band who have grown through word of mouth and relentless gigging rather than glossy marketing.
By the end of the night, The Black Heart is dripping, steaming and absolutely buzzing. People spill into the street looking wrung out but satisfied, displaying the kind of communal exhaustion that only comes from a genuinely lively show. PENGSHUi don’t just perform; they create a scene within a scene, pulling artist and audience together into a room that feels like it just might burst. On a cold November night in Camden, that’s exactly what you want.
KATHRYN EDWARDS
First up are Dog Rotten, who waste no time getting stuck in. Their sound leans into gritty punk and grime influences, delivered with a rough-edged confidence that suits the room. There’s no fussing with introductions; they simply open fire and let momentum do the rest. The crowd respond quickly, some already pushing forward and testing the edges of a pit before the set has even reached its halfway point. Dog Rotten might not have the sharpest presentation, but that’s part of the appeal. They come across like a band who want to get their hands dirty, and the audience happily meet them in the middle.
Tuggawar follows and immediately shifts the atmosphere. He turns up wearing sunglasses, which would risk seeming detached if he weren’t so quick to wade into the crowd. Backed by a surprisingly tight live band, he delivers a set packed with heavy, rhythmic tracks that land well with the front rows, who are fully on board from the start. At one point, he drops a riff from Eminem’s ‘Without Me’, which earns a ripple of laughter and recognition before the room settles back into moving as one. There’s an easy confidence to Tuggawar. He’s energetic without trying too hard, engaged without being overly earnest. By the end, he’s got the entire venue bouncing, and it feels like he’s only just getting warmed up when his set wraps up.
Once PENGSHUi take over, the temperature somehow climbs further. The first track barely begins before a pit opens, and a crowd surfer appears almost immediately. ‘Let’s Go’ and ‘No Time’ both hit with real weight, helped along by a room that seems intent on matching them beat-for-beat. The band offer bottles of water to the front rows, which is needed; even from the back, you can see the heat rising in waves. Not everything goes smoothly – a brief scuffle breaks out during the second song, though it’s dealt with quickly. MC Illaman calls it out – “all love, no bad energy” – the tension evaporates, to be replaced by the same good-natured chaos as before. The band keep the atmosphere steady without slowing the pace, a balance that demonstrates just how comfortable they are working this kind of crowd.
One of the night’s highlights comes when they bring Tuggawar back onstage. PENGSHUi usually switch into a drum and bass or dubstep section at this point, but tonight they lean into a grime-focused stretch instead. It brings a fresh spike of energy that feels more like an organic collaboration than a planned cameo, and audience lap it up. Between songs, PENGSHUi are generous with their thanks. “You are our press campaign”, they tell the crowd, half-amused but clearly sincere. Later, they add: “You made all this possible.” It never crosses into sentimentality; it simply reflects the reality of a band who have grown through word of mouth and relentless gigging rather than glossy marketing.
By the end of the night, The Black Heart is dripping, steaming and absolutely buzzing. People spill into the street looking wrung out but satisfied, displaying the kind of communal exhaustion that only comes from a genuinely lively show. PENGSHUi don’t just perform; they create a scene within a scene, pulling artist and audience together into a room that feels like it just might burst. On a cold November night in Camden, that’s exactly what you want.
KATHRYN EDWARDS