On what was a pretty devastating and terrifying day for most of us, on Friday 13th December – the day it was announced that we have to live under a Tory government for another five years – many of us ventured out, despite feeling emotionally drained by it all, for a night of live music. And what a special night it was; like-minded people coming together to share music, rage and love at a time when we need it the most.
Kicking things off, Foxcunt deliver their immense punk spirit and catchy tunes. Rallying against the patriarchy, ACAB and the home office, their energy-fuelled anti-establishment anthems are just what we need right now.
Next up, Manchester’s Dollie Demi lift our spirits with their sassy, vibrant spirit. As front woman Demi wows us all with her sparkling confidence, incredible classic-rock inspired riffs and driving beats are delivered with a swirling, fun-filled energy.
Third band of the night, Brighton’s LibraLibra, completely blow me away. Delivering their immense dance-punk creations, it’s utterly impossible not to become completely captivated by front woman Beth’s incredible dazzling magnetism as the full-force of her impassioned vocals blasts out alongside tribal beats and whirring hooks. A colossal cacophony that empowers and enlivens.
Headliners Screaming Toenail bring the night to a poignant end. Despite letting us know that they’re feeling emotionally drained by the awful revelations of the day, front person Jacob leads the band in uniting us in love and rage with their resonant, cathartic creations. Whether we’re being encouraged to scream ‘No’ in the face of any racism/homophobia/ableism we encounter, share names of powerful women we love, or simply acknowledge how cute we all are, Screaming Toenail ooze a a frenzied, raw emotion and vibrant spirit. And, with powerful – and all too resounding – offerings such as ‘Swarm’ and ‘Sever’, they soothe some of the day’s pain, filling the venue with a comforting sense of unity, as like-minded people come together to dance and sing in solidarity against the forces seeking to crush our spirit.
Massive thanks and love to the four incredible bands who powered through devastating times to come and play for us on Friday, and made it such a special night. We’ll be back at The Finsbury on 10th January 2020, with headliners Personal Best.
Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto
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[…] Toenail – Growth They headlined one of the last gigs we hosted in December last year – the night after the fateful election result; a night when a […]
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