Even if you haven’t heard their music, anyone wired into the alt scene and drawn to heavier sounds has likely crossed paths with the name Native James. Their debut EP, Confessions of a Sinner is gaining momentum, thanks to its kaleidoscopic mix of grime, punk, hip-hop, metal, and everything in between.
The past two weeks saw the project take that EP on a run of UK dates. After dropping a low-ticket warning for their final two shows, they sold out The Old Blue Last and turned it into a full-throttle, sweat-soaked finale.
There’s nothing quite like a dark, dingy venue to get you in the mood for real DIY music. Even with barely any legroom, The Old Blue Last has never shied away from absolute carnage. And Native James’ headline show was no exception.
The stage lights faded to red, and an unholy “what the fuck is up” ripped from frontman Aaron James. Playing to a sold-out crowd, Native James had the floors shaking and fans headbanging within minutes.
“I wanna see that pit open,” he demanded. “This next song is gonna be fucking crazy.” Seconds later, the band tore into their monstrous anthem “Hammer,” the track that arguably put them on the map in the alternative scene for its genre-bending, explosive soundscape.
Although the vocals were on the quieter side, James’ delivery was unmatched as he stretched clean fry screams into demonic gutturals between every song. In classic metal fashion, he demanded crowd surfers for the next track. “That Cookie Monster right here,” he said, pointing at a grown man fully suited in a Cookie Monster outfit. “COOKIE,” the crowd rumbled back, low and ominous.
“DO WHAT YOU WANT” carried a hip-hop-fused edge with reggae undertones, and the crowd loved it, shouting the chorus word-for-word. “London, you’re really showing up tonight,” James said. “GTFU” summoned a monster out of the room—by that point, the venue was 90% mosh pit. Spin kicks were thrown, drinks were sacrificed, and everyone was having a time.
After a run of melancholic tracks, carnage finally broke loose for “GTA.” In the corner, someone paused the chaos long enough to pour the Cookie Monster a cup of water before he dove back in. Within the first few guitar shreds of “FIRE PON DEM,” the room was already assembling the next pit. One guy—apparently self-appointed commander—signaled a “push back,” carving out a void in the center before fans launched into a gnarly circle pit.
Shows like this make you appreciate the value of indie, grassroots venues and the aura they cultivate. Seeing Native James on bigger stages is the dream, of course, but nights like this prove why smaller gigs hit differently. They’re raw, often feral, and impossible to reproduce.
“I wanna thank every single one of you,” the vocalist said as the set neared its end. The crowd wasn’t satisfied. The band returned for three encores—yes, three—first repeating “DO WHAT YOU WANT,” then tearing into “GTA,” and closing with “GTFU.”
“Okay, I actually have to go home,” James said. “Thank you guys so much. I’ll see you at Download.”
What a truly insane show.
Lead image photo credit: Josephine Best