MPF2025 FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: FILTHY MILITIA

Some bands have to wait longer to play MPF than others, and in Filthy Militia‘s case, you get the feeling that not only has it been a long time in coming, but the band is chomping at the bit to do so.

Indeed, such was the enthusiasm Ben and Eve showed throughout our chat with them that time passed in a blur; the nearly-hour-long chat felt like about five minutes.

MPF Memories

It helps that both have MPF experience in their back pockets – Ben recalled fondly singing on stage with Lightyear, although how he got there was unconventional. He says his version of ‘Blindside’ came about after a viral video of him being rather inebriated singing it came to the attention of Lightyear, after using it to promote Filthy Militia’s then-upcoming opening slot for the band. Fast-forward to what Ben describes as a ‘fuzzy’ memory of MPF2023 in Gorilla, as Chas dragged him on stage for an impromptu guest vocal performance. Described by the man himself as a ‘wonderful memory’, one can sense his desire to make more.

For her part, Eve and her husband Tom have kept busy as well, playing as part of fellow ska-ites Lead Shot Hazard, strangely also in 2023. Eve describes it as ‘possibly the best Lead Shot Hazard set we ever played’, perhaps a sign that Eve, Tom, and Ben already bring their best to MPF’s stage.

Who are Filthy Militia?

So then, what of their combined creation, Filthy Militia? The band could feasibly be described as veterans of the London punk scene, particularly the totemic New Cross Inn, since 2016. The evolving nature of their lineup (they’re now a relatively stable five-to-seven-person force) has led to a heady mix of influences. Indeed, hearing them invokes a true musical smorgasbord of the punk scene, spanning as far as The Ramones to local contemporaries like MPF favourites Call Me Malcolm. Eve in particular references their sound getting heavier as the band has evolved, particularly as new members have joined the band.

This push-pull dichotomy also bleeds into their songwriting, as they both explain:

“Lyrically, our songs are split into two halves. We’ve got serious stuff, for example, another day the opening track of “Coping Mechanism” is about having mentally a bad day, and the idea of worrying about your bad mood, pushing people off and isolating yourself, and alienating other people, making it worse…and Land of the Dead, while it is a bit of a jaunty song that’s about music venues closing down, but on the other hand, we’ve written songs like “Jesus”… the other half of the songs are all just really fucking silly.“

So far, with the serious and silly energy behind them, the band have released two EPs – the excellently named Innocent Until Proven Filthy in 2018, followed by the Oz Craggs-produced Coping Mechanism in 2022. When I catch up with them, they’re writing their first full-length album, which is described to me as a mix of their traditional ska-punk sound with some heavier things in the mix – achieved by a more collaborative focus on their musical output, with all members adding their particular ingredient to the final recipe.

MPF2025 Set

You can expect to see their newer output, as well as some of their classics, in their MPF set – and one thing you should expect is an energetic live performance. Eve advised watching their performance of ‘Jesus’ in particular, where Ben’s ode to a spiritual experience during a mushroom and cheese crepe (no, of course, I’m not making this up) is enhanced with a synchronised dance routine between the two. That should certainly be a sight to see.

Their final words just continue to ooze with excitement – as well as playing themselves, they were at pains to push acts like Baldhead, Faintest Idea, and Jake Martin, to name but a few, as contemporaries they were excited to see over the weekend. More than anything, though, it feels like they just can’t wait to get started. With their pulsing energy sure to come out on stage, you’d be mad to miss the chance to see them at MPF.

The band have also asked me to promote a good cause – their sometime member Nathanial Dye has inspirationally reacted to his terminal bowel cancer diagnosis by doing a number of ‘bucket list’ items to raise money for MacMillan, one of which is his solo album.

Please check out his website and music at https://bowelcancerbucketlist.com/ – Nathanial is a tremendous talent and a shining inspiration to us all.

Stay punk. x

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