LIVE FROM THE PIT: Gender Warfare, Nailbreaker, Mandibles and Retina

In a month plagued by anti-queer, anti-trans rhetoric, Nottingham (and the world) needs more queer music. Gender Warfare heard the call, and screamed back at it. We went a long to see them work their queer magic at JT Soar. With their bold and unapologetic music, accompanied by the three support bands, the gig was sure to be a chaotic but cathartic experience.

First on the support bill was queer hardcore/emo grunge band Retina, a Nottingham based three piece who served up songs about being queer and working class, with hard hitting lyrics from songs like “Bullet on a Cross” and a heavy bass guitar backing. With the crowd getting into the sound very quickly, two stepping and chanting ‘Fuck the TERFS’ at the encouragement of the band, it was very apparent why DIY spaces like JT Soar are so badly needed right now.

Darkwave, industrial duo Mandibles were next on stage, bringing ethereal vocals and atmospheric soundscapes, with tracks like “A Thousand Cuts”, where all that was missing was a dark, smoky room of people swaying along. With a performance that would not be lost on an ’80s movie soundtrack (think The Lost Boys), these self-confessed ‘electro creeps’ brought a slightly different vibe to the other bands on the bill, with their blend of various sounds, but got the crowd going.

Next up, with a curated mix of noise, hardcore and hip hop, Nailbreaker, the solo project of George Hammond, was the standout performance from the support on the night. With his energetic crowd participation, for songs like “England is Mine” with mosh pits, crowd surfing and screaming enthusiasm when running out to grab a Palestinian flag, Nailbreaker brought a mix of aggression and catharsis to the room, exploring themes of politics and mental health. 

Headliner Gender Warfare (who are on gender tour-fare… see what they did there?) came to bring the queercore noise we all needed to hear.  With songs like “(I Am Not Your) Dude”, “Commodity” and “Queers to The Front” from their first studio release “New Wave of British Transphobia”, talking about the fetishisation of minorities, being perceived and the always needed reminder to stand up, fight back, Gender Warfare encouraged and received most pits aplenty, leaving everyone feeling hyped and some what exorcised of our anger and resentment after a good old fashioned queer dance party.

DIY venues like JT Soar hold a special place in the queer and trans communities, creating safe spaces for people to come and enjoy live music, free from discrimination, helping to building and foster inclusive communities, as well as giving cultural preservation in a scene plagued with constantly closing venues. Bands like Gender Warfare playing a venue like JT Soar shows exactly how the queer and trans communities can come together, even when their very existence is constantly up for debate, and bring joy and most importantly, music, to those who really need it.

Words: Lou Viner

Photos: Daisy Evans