James and the Cold Gun Make Their Headline Debut
The Lower Third in Denmark Street set the stage for a high-energy night of rock, with rising London alt-rockers Whitelocust opening for Welsh headliners James and the Cold Gun. After performing as special guests for Duff McKagan at the O2 Islington in 2024, the band returned to London this year with even greater momentum. This time, they topped the bill with a buzzing headline show and delivered a powerful set that proved they’re more than ready to own the spotlight as headliners.
Opening the night, Whitelocust brought a dreamy, shoegaze-meets-90s-rock sound to the stage. The London-based band formed in 2022 and their style blends vibrant drum work, psychedelic guitar solos, groovy bass lines and soft, atmospheric vocals. They kicked off their set with ‘Gone Like Me’ (2023), easing the crowd in with warm, reverb-heavy textures. Their sound filled the room without overpowering it, striking a nice balance between energy and emotion. It was a confident set that showed off their potential, and with a new EP coming in 2025 to follow their 2024 debut ‘Nothing on the Other Side’, Whitelocust are definitely a band to watch. Their set closed with a cover of ‘Take It as It Comes’ — a nod to The Doors.
Headliners James and the Cold Gun wasted no time turning things up. The Cardiff-based band, fronted by James Joseph (formerly of Holding Absence) and lead guitarist James Biss, took the stage with ‘Riding the Tiger’ — the explosive opener from their 2025 album ‘Face in the Mirror’. Joined by bassist Gaby Elise and drummer Jack Wrenchon, they tore through a loud and refreshingly real rock set.
Their music is pure, no-frills rock — punchy guitars, fast rhythms and a hint of punk edge from Joseph’s roots. Since signing to Stone Gossard’s label Loosegroove Records in 2022, the band has been building serious momentum. That same year, they supported Pearl Jam at Hyde Park and their performance at The Lower Third shows they’ve only grown stronger since.
The crowd was fully in it — moshing, crowd surfing, even starting a few moshpits. The band fed off the energy, shouting out fans and keeping the vibe high throughout. It felt intimate, raw and fun, exactly what a rock show should be. They closed with ‘Chewing Glass’ (2023) from their self-titled debut — a gritty, heavy closer that left everyone buzzing for more. James and the Cold Gun are a band made for the stage, and based on this performance, it won’t be long before they return to London — likely to an even larger audience.
