Live Review: Scalphunter, PUCK, Rag N' Bone, Shit Narnia, Ray Finkle

Ray Finkle was the first band to grace the stage of brand spankin’ new venue Jimmy’s Den, and they didn’t disappoint. The stage came to life as the boys smashed out 30 minutes of ridiculously tight tracks. Lead singer Jamie Taylor frantically swayed his hips throughout the set, his voice possessing a fascinating blend of theatricality and grit. Taylor’s mission for the night was to get everybody on their feet, and he attempted to achieve this by heckling anyone still seated with some questionable remarks. Nevertheless, the band filled the room with roaring, thrash-worthy rock, and their high-energy performance seemed to hold the attention of the steadily growing crowd.

Up next was Shit Narnia, keen to keep the night going strong. Vocalist Hugh Manning proved that he isn’t one to shy away from showmanship, immediately doing away with his shirt before their set had even begun. Their songs were infectiously catchy, and at times dipped into mesmerising breakdowns. Manning took a moment to call out the previous band for using a homophobic slur earlier in the night, before segueing into This Is How They Kill Us – a solemn number about the struggles of coming to terms with queer identity. It was an eerily stirring tune, with raw emotion poured into every second of it. It was definitely the stand-out track of their set.

Rag N’ Bone had the crowd hypnotised from the get-go. Kiera Owen’s powerful vocals were punchy yet enchanting at the same time, and she managed to hit some unbelievable notes – all while being sick. A sizeable crowd had formed around the stage by song three, their tunes getting a fair share of people moving. Later, Owen commanded the crowd to “let the fuck loose” for the next track – and we of course obliged.

A singing drummer is somewhat of a rarity, but that’s exactly what PUCK brought out as they hit the stage, treating the crowd to 40 minutes of straight-up stoner rock. They were one of the heavier bands of the night, allowing the audience to bust out their best head banging. Their spectacular eruptions of riffs, rumbling beats and tight harmonies made for a truly atmospheric experience. 

The anticipation was palpable by now, and as the lights dimmed, a number of fans waved their lighters in the air. It was time for Scalphunter. They pulled no punches, immediately launching into thunderous screams that could wake the dead. You could tell they were savouring every minute on stage; their glorious hair flips too numerous to count. They certainly weren’t short on energy either, jumping around on stage with fervour – the occasional air kick sneaking its way in every now and then. A fan was invited up on stage to sing along with the band, and you see how sincerely chuffed he was to be there. The boys were an electrifying close to a cracker of a gig.