The 27 Club is synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll and the many greats that have weaved their way into its legend.

But on a dreary Friday night at the tail end of February, Plastersun drew on the inspiration of greats like Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison, to deliver their finest rock ‘n’ roll hour to date.

Wet and windy outside, the inside of Southampton’s Heartbreakers transformed into a breeding ground for post-punk, indie-infused elegance and debauchery in equal measure. Perfect for the latest instalment of So Young Live shows. Not only was it Plastersun’s first ever headline show, it also sold out.

Upon entry to the top floor, revellers were greeted by the beaming, towering figure of frontman Fergus McLean, a giant Plastersun banner and a floor laden with yellow balloons.

Before the first musical note had even been strum, struck or plucked, the audience were treated to a special appearance from mascot of Plastersun’s last music video ‘Sir Ian Flate’. A balloon-headed degenerate masquerading as a promoter.

Talking of which, Mr Steve was on hand to compere the night in a heightened flamboyant character he claimed was inflated for the night. He graced the centre of the stage and slipped into a naturally eccentric welcome speech, before introducing the opening act, December Magazine, and taking a swig from a bottle or two seemingly strategically placed across the stage.

December Magazine, a four-piece Southampton rock band, graced the 27 Club stage first, and delivered a set of rock ‘n’ roll energy.

Their set was positioned as the perfect introduction to the night. The psyche-infused rock gave a sense of what was to come.

Their drums were incredibly loud and especially crashing, but this didn’t overpower the scintillating psychedelic guitar solos. The kind of solos that take you away to a different place, allowing the mind to wander whilst still focussing on the show at hand.

Mr Steve reclaimed his position on the stage to declare a short break between bands, and continued swigging from every bottle in sight. At this point, I must say he wasn’t really drinking alcohol neat from the bottle, and was in fact playing the role an increasingly tipsy promoter, although not everyone in the crowd appeared in on the act.

Away Fans made their first visit down to Southampton from London as the middle act on the bill. The indie five-piece frontman Tom Fisher introduced them as the “bringers of indie sleaze” promising to deliver the crowd back to a time where sweat-filled rooms dripped from the ceiling.

Backing vocalist Alice Seymour delivered a stunning, harmonising vocal performance that drew attention away from Fisher at times. Built on a tight rhythm section that includes David Lewins on bass and Matt Foley on drums, guitarist Alex Boffey plays scratchy and punchy riffs that transport you right back to the noughties.

In opening track ‘Fractals’, Fisher plays a fast, echoing cow bell to accompany the drum beat. They played familiar songs ‘Honey’, ‘Keeping On’ and ‘Explorer’, before playing new single ‘Perfect Moment’, released on the day of the gig.

The hit blends rave beats with indie guitar riffs to combine in a wonderful way. Fisher’s vocal delivery teetered on the edge of spoken word, accompanied by Seymours soothing tones throughout.

As they wrapped up their performance with ‘Lights Out’, ‘Hot and Sweaty’ and ‘Good Day’, the crowd were completely behind their show, cheering and dancing along. It’s safe to say their first visit to Southampton culminated in them winning over new fans.

Once more, Mr Steve regained his position on the stage to declare a thirty minute break, which actually lasted around ten.

Plastersun members Valentina Longo (Bass and backing vocals), Stephen Baker (Guitar), Rai Owen (Drums) and Oliver White (Guitar) took to the stage as intro music blared out over the sound system.

Pryiesh Fernando joined the band on stage to begin the first song with a gentle violin melody, before the crowd erupted and the band roared into the opening of ‘Delusions of Grandeur’.

After what seemed an eternity, frontman Fergus McLean appeared from a door side of stage, with two bags full of yellow balloons. He emptied the bags of balloons over the crowd and stage which added to the energy in the room.

He finally took the microphone just in time for his cue and began with the opening lyrics of the night. The song itself depicts the tale of a misguided and arrogant promoter. “At first it was nonchalant now I see a penchant for you drowning in your sorrows”.

Mid way through the track, Sir Ian Flate appeared side of stage and danced along to the track. As McLean ended with a spoken-word monologue and one final chorus, he asked the crowd if he should burst Sir Ian Flate’s head. In one swoop the head was gone, and so was the mascot.

As he retook his position behind the mic stand, he chimed “It’s alright, he had an inflated ego anyway”, which was rightfully met with jeers and eye rolls from the sold out crowd.

The band continued into brand new single ‘Heartstopper’, which was released the day before. It divulges the listener into a tale of falling in love with a stranger on a night out. It has the perfect Plastersun balance between post-punk energy and indie sleaze vocal delivery.

The crowd didn’t just stand and watch the new track, they were living it. It felt like the whole room propped up the rhythm section, conducted by Longo’s bouncing bassline.

They continued to rip through ‘Play Along’ and into ‘Seconds’. Longo continued with another electrifying bassline that conducted the track, accompanied by Owen’s grooving drumbeat.

McLean’s vocals feel sharper here. Any early tentative nerves had been cast aside and he was controlling the crowd. The room was bellowing “Seconds feel like hours with you my love” in unison, right before Baker stole the show with scintillating John Squire-esque guitar solo that was brought back down to earth with another shattering Longo bassline.

The energy was lowered at this point in the set, to allow space for ‘Pleasure Circus’ to drift and sway around the room. McLean’s vocals filled all the space, accompanied by backing vocals from Longo whilst Baker’s dedicated, melodic riffs cut through the air.

Mid way through the track, the tempo and pace were flipped on their head. McLean ripping into a fast-paced rant before the song ended the same way it began.

They continued with ‘A Forest’, which preceded one of their biggest tracks ‘Hunger’. Again, Baker and Longo, positioned left of stage as you look, steal the show with the mysterious riff and pounding bass combination.

This song is clearly a fan favourite, as everyone in the room bellowed “Hunger hunger” back at them during the chorus.

As they continued with their set, they met an emotional track ‘Big Brother’. McLean clearly struggled to deliver the final few lyrics and turned his back on the crowd as it came to its conclusion. In this moment, the tightness of their unit was made clear as guitarist Oliver White gave a subtle nod to his frontman, ensuring he was able to continue.

As ‘Big Brother’ tailed off, Owens picked up a faster drumbeat and the rest of the band continued with him, before their manager took to the stage, furiously telling them she’d said they cannot play this track.

This jovial skit concluded in a band huddle, resulting in the powerful bass intro of ‘Death by Misadventure’. This hit explores hedonic pleasure and raw emotion, the perfect post-punk combination.

Fergus McLean thanked the crowd at its conclusion, and announced its the time in the show he would normally introduce the band. However, this time they would be handling things a little differently.They played through ‘Ignore Us’ and McLean vacated the stage at the midway point.

White wasn’t far behind, and was soon accompanied by Baker. This left the rhythm section. But not for much longer as Longo also left her space, leaving Owens to plough through an incredible drum solo, whilst being completely showered in flowers thrown from the crowd.

He finally left his seat and the room erupted into cries of “one more song”. After a few moments, the band retook positions and McLean explained to the excited onlookers that they didn’t have any more songs to give.

A short vote later, and they ripped into a second rendition of ‘Hunger’, which was clearly a fan favourite on the night.

For the final chorus, McLean joined the crowd, taking the opportunity to sing with the many friends, family and fans that filled the room. In that single moment, a sense of togetherness reverberated off the walls. When you consider they’ve never headlined a show before, and suddenly a sold-out Friday-night Heartbreakers are all singing with you, it’s a mightily impressive feat.

They wanted to give the crowd a bit more, so fell on a track they wrote in five minutes whilst rehearsing. ‘Cocaine Dream’ was amazingly respected considering no one in the room had heard it, and at times McLean had to try and remember lyrics he’d vaguely written.

On a night labeled the 27 Club, there was bound to be rock ‘n’ roll mythology whispered around the room, but Plastersun made it feel like less a memorial and more of a statement. The momentum in their live shows is growing, and it feels like being there at the start of a legendary story.

On the 27th night of February, at the 27 Club, Plastersun forged a small part of rock ‘n’ roll legend.

Review by Brad Halcrow