A Night of Community with YAKKIE
If you love queer feminist punk, YAKKIE are definitely the band for you. To celebrate the release of their debut album, ‘Kill The Cop Inside Your Head’, YAKKIE played an intimate gig at The Victoria in Dalston. Supported by HTML Jones, aka Ishaani Ponniah, the gig got off to a lively start with her mix of Tamil, Japanese and English rap set to hyperpop-esque beats. The future of the queer underground scene is looking bright. Her rapping, vibrant energy and joyful dancing got the crowd pumped, and she’s currently fundraising for her gender-affirming surgery, which you can donate to.
Veterans of the London punk scene, with members hailing from Petrol Girls, Jasmine.4.T, Dream Nails, Colour Me Wednesday, itoldyouiwouldeatyou and Personal Best, YAKKIE stormed the stage, kicking off the set with the title track ‘Kill The Cop Inside Your Head’. Before continuing, the band checked that everyone who needed a seat had one, as a disabled music lover, it was a powerful moment. Being able to leave our troubles at the door and work out some of the anger we’re undoubtedly all feeling in the current political climate is important, as the band reminded all of us in attendance.
‘Criticise Me’ kept up the pace and got the crowd moving through the next few songs, the energy building as the tracks tackled heavy subject matter with urgency and defiance. ‘He Sleeps Alone’ sounded even better live, the groove from the bass and guitar filling the space, with Janey Sterling’s voice balancing the song perfectly. ‘Lean Out’ was reminiscent of bass-driven tracks you might expect at a prog or metal gig, bringing to mind Rage Against the Machine. The song tackles unpaid work often done by women that keeps the world moving, with a particularly thrashy moment as it reaches its peak. ‘Atlas’ offered a reflective, sombre take on a cherished relationship ending, giving everyone a moment to catch their breath. It’s the kind of song that feels almost universal, the grief of ending a relationship is something most of us are familiar with. ‘Right of Reply’ was a furious belter dedicated to all the women who have been killed by men, giving them a voice where they are often reduced to one-dimensional victims rather than whole people. The passion bled through every instrument and the track again blended punk and metal.
Between songs, Sterling spoke about the band’s politics, from supporting carers at a school in Camden who are currently on strike to feminism and trans rights. Despite such weighty subject matter, the atmosphere in the room remained bright and defiant, with the music bringing us together as a collective, if only for a brief moment. ‘Under the Pavement Is the Beach’ was a great moment for crowd interaction, with Sterling encouraging everyone to sing along to the chorus: “under the pavement is the beach, under the prison is the field”, a phrase taken from the Paris riots of 1968. It ended the gig on a triumphant high and certainly left me feeling energised.
I think everyone in the room wished the gig could continue, there were plenty of calls for one more song. Unfortunately, they had already played their entire debut album, so drummer Maeve Westall serenaded us with the Home and Away theme tune while Sterling did push-ups on stage. YAKKIE prove that activism and fun can go hand in hand, and that queer joy in tough times is punk.