[ATTENDED: September 24, 2026] PISS
I wasn’t too impressed when I heard the opening band was called PISS, (some names just rub me wrong), but I listened to their song “blocking a scene you can’t remember” and holy cow it is one of the most intense songs I’ve heard in a long time. The way it is constructed combined with the way the noise builds and builds. Wow. And the lyrics. Jesus.
So who are they? And how are they signed to SUB POP already?
PISS is a noisy, genre-bending four-piece band from Vancouver, B.C. Combining punk, poetry, sound collage, performance art, and visual art, the band creates a multidisciplinary body of work that blurs the line between personal and political.
Powered by thoughtful musicianship, energetic live performances, and a crystal-clear artistic mission, PISS writes punk music that aims to transcend the limitations of a well-established genre. Their work draws inspiration from a range of unexpected influences: literary giants, philosophers, filmmakers, painters, psychoanalysts, activists, children, members of a German anarcho-feminist militant group, and conversations with audience members. These voices represent varying ideological beliefs about gender-based violence and enable PISS to create art that depicts challenging and controversial issues such as sexual violence and enculturated gender norms without reduction, romanticization, polemics, or dogmatism.
This is radical feminism bathed in noise.
The band came out on stage and while the rest of the band was getting their gear ready, lead singer/screamer taylor zantingh stood front and center, stretching. She stretched her arms, her back and some intense leg stretches (with knee pads). I knew this was going to be an intense performance.
The band crashed to life, gavin moya feedbacking the bass, tyler paterson standing in front of the amp generating guitar sounds and garreth roberts smashing the drums. After a 30 second intro of loud noise, taylor said “hi everybody.” She was polite and a bit quiet.
Before the set began, she gave us a trigger warning, that these songs are about sexual assault. And also to let us know that if a mosh pit forms and you don’t want to be in it, to raise your hand and people will make sure you get out of the way safely. She also said it was going to be very loud, so put in earplugs. (more…)
