ALIEN CHICKS DO IT BETTER

ALIEN CHICKS DO IT BETTER

Review by Yemi Sawyerr for Tenebris - 16 March 2026 [SXSW 2026]

It’s not often that you have the pleasure of discovering a band doing something truly unique. On a cool Austin evening at Swan Dive on Red River, I was blessed with this opportunity.

Having bumped into newest member of the band Ben Vize the day prior, he casually remarked that I should pop down to their set the next day and check out what he described as ‘Jazz/ Punk fusion.’ Already I was interested, but my intrigue was piqued at the group’s name ‘Alien Chicks’ - this sold the deal that I was to find myself at Swan Dive the next evening. 

I arrived outside Swan Dive around 10pm, stepping out of my taxi to music blasting from all the venues around and the street lit up by taco truck neon. There was a growing queue that I quickly joined and made it inside just before Alien Chicks burst to life. 

The start of the set was a delicious slap to the face; a detonation of frantic energy and seamless blend of genres. Vocalist and guitarist Josef Lindsay was explosive on the mic, moving between pure British punk into rap-esque sections, and at times soulful melodies with harmony. These ups and downs gave the set an exciting unpredictability that kept me engaged from start to finish. The abruptness of pace changes mixed with such a blend of genres was a lesson in technical ability and the synergy between band members. 

It seemed that bassist Stefan Parker-Steele spent more time in the air than he did on the ground, a powerhouse of energy and joy that was mesmerising to watch. Drummer Martha Daniels held everything together with immaculate skill, her punchy, rigorous beats upholding the high energy of the set throughout. Ben Vize’s punk sax was the cherry on the cake, slotting perfectly into the high powered juggernaut of sound. 

One of the things that made the performance so memorable was their commanding stage presence; each member possessing a unique and undeniable strength that meshed together so perfectly. At no point of the performance was I disengaged, witnessing their immersion in the music was absolutely infectious and radiated to the audience. 

Alien Chicks are one of those bands that reassure you the future of music is in safe hands. They honour the jazz spirit of exploration and embody punk’s freeing energy with real attentiveness. It is very evident that they love what they do, passion radiates from the music and performance.

In typical Yemi fashion, I was keen to chat with the band and discover how they came together to form something so uniquely special. They remarked that the band had formed through what was essentially a series of chance happenings; Stefan and Josef meeting at a tap dance class and later coming across Martha as she overheard them talking about needing a drummer. Saxophonist Ben Vize, a well known face in the London jazz scene, is the band’s newest edition, having seen them perform and feeling compelled to get involved. 

Their progression as a band is a sweet story: supporting each other with learning their instruments, growing their skills together and actively seeking improvement and knowledge in their craft. 

We chatted about influences, their recent New York tour, growth and future plans and I must say, it was a genuine pleasure chatting with Alien Chicks.