LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: SCENE QUEEN AT THE O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN, LONDON 06/09/25
“I feel like this is currently the gayest place in all of London,” smiled Scene Queen as she looked out on a crowd as diverse as you see at metalcore gigs these days. Pulling together the queer community, the alternative girlies and a good smattering of beer drinking boys, all in attendance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town were there to experience the feminist rage of the ‘Hot shows in your area' tour.
In a trio of female led acts, Lake Malice were first up and brought the fast and furious electronic metal a short hop over from Brighton where the duo cut their teeth.
“This is how we do it in London motherfuckers!” vocalist Alice Guala screamed, hyping the crowd up with the bouncy ‘Scatterbrain’.
‘Stop The Party’ does anything but. Masters of irresistible builds ups to BIG choruses, Lake Malice set the perfect pace - that pace being a relentless and stylistically impressive performance.
Girli admitted to using her British charm on the US leg of the leg of the Scene Queen tour, “that doesn't work so well here - you guys don't give a fuck”, she laughed.
Her hometown fans though must have been a welcome sight after a couple of months on the road in America. Bringing her sensual brand of power-pop back home, Milly Toomey's spot on the bill feels perfectly placed. Girli's uniqueness comes from the mix of lyrics that are serious and challenging, delivered in a wrapper of light disco.
I Really Fucked It Up’ hits on self-reflection but Toomey turns her introspection and feelings of rage and frustration out towards the transphobic and racist. The song itself is a hip-shaker.
Feminist girl power in rock music isn't a new concept but it's aesthetic has evolved somewhat. Far from the tomboy energy of gals in rock getting on the boys level to play, Scene Queen (Hannah Rose Collins) harnesses ultimate idgaf energy and kicks the doors wide open for femininity, fun and her unique brand of ‘Bimbocore’.
Celebrating the 2024 album ‘Hot Singles In Your Area’, Scene Queen delivers a hair-whipping romp through aggressive flavoured party metal complete with a hint at her next moves.
As a Bimbo chant rings out around the room, ‘BDSM’ sets the tone, the song title alluded to in the song with both the lyrics- ‘beat down slut metal’ and ‘big dumb stupid men’.
After ‘Finger' and ‘Pink Panther’ give fans the expected Scene Queen experience of explicit, comedic metal, new song ‘Platform Shoes’ - released only three days prior changes up the vibe slightly. Maintaining a bimbocore identify, Scene Queen's new offerings have a disco twist, leaning into the funky sounds of countrycore more often heard on Bilmuri tracks. This new song along with a second release of ‘L-shaped couch’ points to an evolution in sound that Scene Queen fans better prepare themselves for.
“Goddamn this feels like a party!” Collins beamed before bringing three fans on stage for an indoctrination into the Bimbo Beta Pi sorority, a sweet moment that she used to talk about community and mutual respect.
Closing out the night with her most iconic tracks ‘Pink Rover’, ‘Barbie & Ken’ and ‘18+’, a perfectly curated set came to an end, not with sadness but a warm glow from a supportive and accepting community built around music, optimism and having a great flippin’ time.
Words and photos by Imogen Bird
Full setlist below:
BDSM
Pink Push-Up Bra
Finger
Pink Panther
Platform Shoes
Pink G-String
MILF
Hot Singles in Your Area
Pink Hotel
Pink Whitney
Mutual Masturbation
Barbie & Ken
Pink Rover
18+