REVIEW BY BRACKEN HAKE
Scene Queen has triumphantly returned, wreaking havoc on London with a sold-out show! The place was packed to the brim, and it’s safe to say I’ve never seen such a high-energy crowd on a Monday night before.
Delilah Bon, a brat-punk, feminist hip-hop powerhouse, kicked off the evening. Her performance was a fantastic complement to the Scene Queen since both performances radiated feminist energy and left the crowd speechless. Songs like “chop dicks,” which addresses the toxicity of the misogynistic porn industry and its reinforcement of male egos while also shedding light on its harmful consequences for women in our society. “Dead Men Don’t Rape” centres on female empowerment themes and addresses the turmoil surrounding the Roe v.
Wade controversy in the United States, where tens of thousands of women were left to fight for their reproductive rights in the face of a patriarchal government. “War on Women,” a personal favourite, addresses issues such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and rape culture. “A war on gender is a war on us all,” the powerful lyric struck a chord with both me and the audience, especially given the current state of the UK government. The audience was undoubtedly in the moment, empowered by Bon’s music. In fact, virtually everyone at the concert, including myself, stayed afterwards, ready to tell her how deeply inspiring she is to both women and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Following Delilah Bon’s explosive performance, the scene was prepared for pop-punk darlings In Her Own Words. While I wasn’t familiar with their music before the show, the audience was, and their enthusiasm was evident. In Her Own Words offered a quieter, yet equally compelling musical experience, in contrast to the high-energy artists that were on either side of their set.
The moment we had all been waiting for had finally arrived. As the venue’s lights turned pink and “Barbie Girl” by Aqua blessed our ears, there was no mistaking it: Scene Queen was about to begin. I discovered Scene Queen on TikTok in 2022, just before the release of her “Bimbocore” EP, and I was immediately taken by both her unique sound and the powerful messages that she delivers through her songs. Tracks like “18+” boldly call out predators in the scene, conveying a powerful message in an incredibly catchy manner. “Pink Hotel ” which is one of her most upbeat songs, brimming with LGBTQIA+ empowerment. Its infectious hooks, such as “I put the ‘ho’ in the hotel,” enthralled the audience, leading to spirited sing-alongs. Furthermore, the line, “Gays with ADHD listen to me, I am their scene queen,” felt genuine, resonating deeply with those who understand the sentiment.
One of the most powerful messages in “Pink Rover” is encapsulated in the potent lyrics, “Please send the coward over, and if the bastard whistles, put a knife up to his boner, cut him.” This unapologetic stance against catcalling serves as a stark reminder that such behaviour should never have been tolerated in the first place – it’s a vile practice that must be eliminated entirely. The audience was in a frenzy, with constant crowd surfing, and Scene Queen made it a point to connect with each and every individual that crowd surfed. This degree of contact was genuinely astonishing to me; it was evident that she had a distinct and genuine relationship with her audience, unlike any other artist I’d ever seen. The event concluded with an encore performance of “Pink Panther,” during which Scene Queen took to crowd surfing and then shared an emotional hug with each and every front-row fan. It was a spectacular finish to an unforgettable evening, demonstrating Scene Queen’s undying devotion to her scene
On a different note, I’d like to thank the fans and artists for creating a safe environment. It was by far the most safe, secure and welcoming show I’d ever been to. I felt accepted and embraced as an openly bisexual man sporting a bold makeup look. Delilah Bon and Scene Queen are shining examples of what the scene needs more of: inclusive individuals who make everyone feel valued and safe.
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