Vegan. Queer. Punk as fuck. That’s all you really need to frame Shooting Daggers the right way.
If you ask any random U.K. kid what local band are really about to rule the hardcore scene, the answer will be Shooting Daggers with a high probability.
Formed in London in 2019, the trio survived the pandemic to rise and shine with a powerful message and straight-in-your-face music.
I should have specified that the band are just based in London, since each member comes from a different country: Sal (lead vocals and guitar) is French; Raquel (drums, backing vocals) is Spanish, and Bea (bass, backing vocals) is from Italy.
Still, playing Italy wasn’t easy for the band. Every time they tried to, things just got canceled for one or another reason and, let’s be honest. Even though they made it this time, a massive storm hit Piacenza exactly the day and moment they were scheduled to play. Tough one for Low-L Fest, but that didn’t take the fun off the festival. The crew and bands collaborated to move the whole thing to a (way) smaller covered spot where hardcore happened.
An overcrowded, squatty, and sweaty place where Shooting Daggers found a natural space to deliver their message.
Speaking of the message, this band proudly claim to be a part of the Queercore movement. Their music is a manifest for all the struggles of that community, but they also want to be a way to empower those who might feel overwhelmed by current circumstances.
About the arising of women in hardcore, Raquel says, “We want to make people see that they can do that. It was very rare to find a female drummer when I was younger, but since I’ve started seeing girls drumming I was like, ‘I can do that myself too!’ It’s been important to feel represented, and now we want to be an example and encourage more people.”
Political and social bonds are so deep rooted in Shooting Daggers because, per Sal’s words, “Your life itself cannot be non-political. It’s a matter of fact, especially for a queer person or a woman in this world. It’s just the way we are, and it’s impossible for us to write things that are about us and not political.”
The band’s last record was the 2024 Love and Rage. It’s been so cute seeing Sal say,”It’s so strange and satisfying when I find our record among Amyl And The Sniffers, for example. It just can stand between those, you know what I mean? And when I put it on the record player, it just sounds sweet to me. I think we’ve done a good job”.
Also, Shooting Daggers’ commitment to DIY culture goes far beyond playing in a band: Bea is a writer for Noizze UK, an independent zine; Raq’s a promoter and part of the South London Scum collective, while Sal is a part-time music production teacher. Lives devoted to the underground.
If you’re wondering how their show was, I can only say one word: WILD. Wanna take a look at their super-raw-ultra-badass-devilish-looking setlist? There you go! (LOL)
Our chat was an extremely pleasant one, and I also want to thank Lisa and Lea from Plastic Bomb Magazine (GER) for helping me out putting this piece together.
Want to know more about the time I spent with bands at this year’s Low-L Fest? Just stay tuned on these pages!
Find out more here.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Rivadossi and Martyna Bannister.
