The Raincoats @ The Scala, London

The Raincoats are an all-girl combo inspired by Velvet Underground and formed during the punk rock revolution. Their “courageous expression of poetic truth” has run deep through post-punk spiky leftfield music ever since. This reunion replayed the entire first album and early singles. By the time they reached Side Two the Raincoats were rocking. Adoring fans from yore and since chanted along with the emotive lyrics. The band flowed, more competent than the recordings yet still dissonant and emotional, unorthodox and sublime. Their playful disregard for convention still shines through. Momentous.

PHOTO: Charlie Inskip