It’s Lambrini Girls’ World and We’re Just Living In It
Chicago, Illinois - September 29, 2026
Lambrini Girls don't let anything stop them. Kinda. Though front woman Phoebe Lunny’s head injury stopped her from crowd surfing, the duo brought an undeniable energy to the venue. They have a take-no-shit attitude, speaking up against political injust, shouting out how proud they are to be queer, and riling up crowds.
Their openers were no different. The explosive night began with the New York based Big Girl. Lead singer and guitarist Kaitlin Pelkey stepped out in a tiger print jumpsuit, a killer belt, big black boots, and dominated the stage. The band had such a fun, boisterous personality that started the night on a great note. Not only were they extremely talented, the lyrics were extremely clever. A stand out moment of the night is when Pelkey called for all “shoplifters to [come to] the front.” She spoke to crowd about their experiences, sharing the sentiment “fuck Walmart,” giving a couple tips, and encouraging “shoplifting curious people [to] take this as a sign from god!” The band’s staunchly anti-capitalist stance translated into brilliantly written songs with lyrics “Shoplifting is good, everyone should do it!” The band ended their captivating set with Pelkey swinging and flinging a bra to the crowd.
The grand night continued on with the second opener Big Special. Black Country-based duo, featuring Joe Hicklin on vocals and Callum Moloney on drums, had a different vibe, but nonetheless, were just as fun. They brought their English sarcasm to the stage, contrasting Big girl with their song “SHOP MUSIC” with lyrics “We will sell your shit” and “We’ll do it for money, And we’ll get a good markup.” Hicklin humorously clarified after the song that, “[they’re] not capitalistic dickheafs but [they’re] hypocrites ‘cause [they’re] selling merch.” The crowd interaction amped up as the duo jumped into the crowd, cymbal and all. The band was charming, punchy, and a great act to lead into Lambrini Girls.
Phoebe Lunny and Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez, along with their drummer, headed on stage in the pitch dark as the crowd went crazy. The lights cut on and as Macieira-Boşgelmez played bass, Lunny encouraged the crowd to split the middle to form a mosh pit. That immediately set the tone for the rest of their set. A whirl of chaotic bodies danced in the crowd.
Lambrini Girls are all about an exuberant crowd. Crowd surfing was encouraged in spite of Lunny’s head injury, which didn’t stop her from interacting with the crowd. Before their song “Help Me I’m Gay,” Lunny hopped in the crowd searching for “gay [legends]”. Lunny, by chance, picked Big Girl’s Pelkey in the crowd, which was a fun moment seeing the touring acts interact. Followed soon after that song, they spoke about their deep anti-government sentiment. What rings true to Lambrini Girls is their authenticity and genuineness when speaking on their political beliefs. Through their performance and demeanor, you can feel that they mean every single word they say. The grit of Lunny’s voice, the way Macieira-Boşgelmez swings around the stage, the sweat flying, granted the venue was a sauna, as Lunny stripped down to her bra.
Lambrini Girls bring a breath of fresh air, ironically, to the scene. Especially as an all-female band. Female rage is incomparable. This is channeled in their song “White Man’s World,” a new song from their upcoming album No Refunds. Alongside other new songs such as “Bang Bang Bang” and “Cult of Celebrity,” the band played a mix of their hits such as “God’s Country,” “You’re Not From Around Here,” and “Cuntology 101” from their debut album Who Let The Dogs Out. It’s safe to say with the band’s new releases that nothing has changed in regards to their messages–especially with lyrics like “No more crowns, no more kings” and “You’d better repent in a biblical sense, That’s what you get for commercialising medicine” in “Bang Bang Bang.” What No Refunds is bringing is an even more raw, energized version of the Lambrini Girls that was showcased on the Vic Theatre stage.
Big Girl in the pit during Lambrini Girls set.
