Heavy drums and headlines: Frontroom at The Finsbury

Written by Sacha Price

Frontroom performing at The Finsbury, London | Credit: Alana Bennett (@alanaparisphotos)

Supporting Sloane in the back room of The Finsbury, the London four-piece Frontroom delivered a set defined by rhythm and an unfiltered grunge sensibility that felt deliberate rather than nostalgic.

Opening with ‘Who You Are’, they establish their palette quickly - distorted guitar from River Dobson-Wallace, a steady undercurrent of bass from Matthew Spreadbury and drums that refuse to sit quietly in the mix. Aidan Lucking’s performance behind the kit is the engine of the set: loud and played with a level of force that never slips into sloppiness. Every fill feels intentional, with every crash placed for maximum impact.

Frontman Jacob Stocking towered at centre stage without an instrument in hand, delivering vocals with a measured detachment that contrasts the intensity building around him. Dressed casually, with minimal between-song commentary, the band let the sound carry the weight of the performance. The understatement of stage presence sharpens the focus to the texture and timing, instead of theatrics.

Mid-set, ‘I’m Lost For Words’ shifts the dynamic. Stocking reads newspaper headlines in place of lyrics, transforming fragmented newsprint into something more rhythmic. When he declares: “Unreal band Frontroom will shake you to your bones,” the line lands with a mix or irony and self-belief, met with immediate cheers.

The room isn’t overflowing, but it doesn’t need to be - the consistent pulse of movement beneath intermittent flashing lights is just enough to fill the space. Closing with ‘Sally’, they lean fully into distortion, allowing the final moments to stretch rather than explode. It’s not a set designed to overwhelm, but it’s built on control and precise rhythms, and leaves a mark loudly and firmly.

Credit: Alana Bennett (@alanaparisphotos)