Live Review + Gallery | Pigeon Dog @ The Old Blue Last, London

Pigeon Dog | Marfa Ma | Cherry I

The Old Blue Last, London

16th January 2025

Photography by Zosia Kibalo (@zeesscope)

Zosia Kibalo

Photographer trying to capture all the colours of the world one gig at a time. I love experimenting with my photos, both digitally and old school arts and crafts style. I also find my voice through writing about art in any shape or form. Catch me hopping around grassroots venues bopping my head and camera to some good tunes!

**North London’s 3-piece Pigeon Dog gave the city’s crowd a warm up with the launch party of their new single ‘Wet Washing‘**

The night’s line up hosted by The Old Blue Last and curated by the band themsleves was a pleasant surprise as it presented us with a wide spectrum of sounds. We begin with Marfa Ma whose heart-to-heart performance paired with a healthy dose of charming chaos wins the crowd over.

His gentle energy is quickly contrasted by the sultry grunge sound, served by Cherry I. Their set leaves you uneasy, shaken up by the whiney guitars and tense vocals by lead singer Nikol. The tension lingers around the room, seeking some sort of euphoric release, which is absolutely delivered when it is Pigeon Dog’s turn to take the stage.

While performing, the band threads an unique energy, somewhere in between collective anger and a giggle, hyping the crowd up with a range of emotions. Anxiety-ridden lyrics contrast the cheerful melodies while lead singer Maya paints their performance with unique colours. Their tone, direct and to the point, made me feel like I was listening to a manifesto of our generation. The message undoubtedly resonated with the room, playing on realities we all know too well.

The set ended by celebrating ‘Wet Washing,’ a song certainly worth the wait. Dominated by a powerful riff, with a monstrous rhythm section provided by the drums (George) and bass (Dory), the band’s sound really shone through. The single follows the release of ‘Jumpy Cow‘, released back in the summer of 2024. “That’s how long it takes to make money in this business” – jokes Maya.

Painful truths coupled with a nudge and a wink are their true tango, and listening to their live performance only confirms that. In a world where 20-somethings are already on the edge of burnout, struggling to keep our heads above water, Pigeon Dog is their whacky champion, taking cheeky stabs at the big bad.

While the crowd cheered for one last song I felt a satisfaction that only a truly good show leaves you with. I highly recommend you try to catch Pigeon Dog next time it crawls out of its hideout. It humours and shakes, what more could one want?

Check out the gallery here: