TWIN PEAKS go bonkers at their Scala show.

Chicago’s ambassadors for reckless fun, Twin Peaks are back in London. This time firing up a packed Scala and proving once more that they really are a live act to watch out for.

As the first few thundering cords of Butterfly fill the room, you can already feel the floor swaying under the weight of the jumping crowd. Following up with Stand In the Sand and Boomers, the bar is set for a high pace performance, not that we are surprised.

Kicking off next with the towering rock anthem I Found A New Way, off of their sophomore album, Wild Onion, the room lights up. The 70s Stones associations are strong as Clay Frankel and Cadien Lake James’s, a.k.a Big Tuna, guitars layer and intertwine.

The band certainly has nothing in common with the 90s cult TV show they share their name with. Where David Lynch keep it mysterious and gloomy, Twin Peaks are all about that sparkly enthusiasm as well as being up front, raw and honest to the point of direct confrontation.

Twin Peaks have definitely built themselves a significant fan base. Whilst the mosh-pitting and crowd surfing help cranking up the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem to please the security who’s trying their best to keep the rowdy masses under control. “You’re blocking the kids view, man. They can’t see. And don’t touch anyone,” Twin Peaks tell security from the stage whilst egging on the already frantic crowd “We take care of you guys! Don’t worry”.

It is quite unusual to see a band where all members are capable of leading vocals, and the switching between leads adds to their already agitated stage presence. Flavour is their beacon tonight having the whole room echo along with the intense course “Flavour your heart and your soul”. A, if I’m allowed to say it, ‘fucking amazing’ performance.

“Yo, you guys who are crowd surfing. Keep on! Just don’t get too close to these guys okay. Don’t get caught. It’s like underaged drinking – just don’t get caught,” Twin Peaks preach to the roaring masses before jumping headfirst into banger My Boys of their latest album Down In Heaven. Their intelligent use of vocals and rattling live approach give you the feel like these boys are somewhat invincible, and tonight’s effort only strengthen this impression.

In spite of slipping on a few notes every now and then, their all over commitment makes digging for flaws superfluous.

The Chicago outfit really knows how to put on a cracking show and through the dizzying amount of head-banging and general madness there is a red string of great music. The key to Twin Peaks live performance is the extreme excitement. It’s infectious happiness where the band and the crowd come together in youthful joy with a bit of recklessness.

Their relentlessly slamming riffs and firm percussion get a break when Natural Villain comes slugging through the speakers with it’s elongated soaring guitars and howling vocals. “Start trying to treat me the way I wanna be. Stop trying so hard”. Bitter heartbreaker Holding Roses follows with hallow sorrow wrapped in passive aggressive tuning.

An aggressive climax of the track Have You Ever makes a perfect pre-encore ending. And as Twin Peaks reappear for Wanted You and Strawberry Smoothie their rock and roll attitude comes to show. Disrespect for authority in the favour of good old crazy fun seems to be the top of agenda, and as the whole room screams “I wanted you, but you didn’t want me” the audaciousness seems to get the better of everyone’s judgement.

As Strawberry Smoothie comes to an end it’s a marvel of bitter despair swallowing up the band in a stage diving frenzy. A chaotically perfect ending to a bonkers night.

Photos: Aurora Henni Krogh