Show Review: Magda, Gegenpress, and Windpipe at the Windmill Brixton, London.
December 16th, 2025
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“frankensteining”
December 18th, 2025
Walking from Brixton station to the Windmill did not quite include drizzling, but just light enough droplets to freckle your face. The garden outside is lit red for smoking whilst awaiting the first set. Inside is packed tight, featuring brightly colored year round Christmas lights and a St Patrick's Day banner. At the bar, a proud boyfriend bragged to his friends that his girlfriend helped put up decorations. Windpipe, Gegenpress, and Magda were performing to celebrate the season.
When Windpipe takes the stage, one guitar feels sentimental and midwestern, while the bass pulls together a groove. The drums played with the bass in jazz compositions at times, but knew exactly how to pick up for a climax. Vocals ranged from timid whispers to OG Black Country New Road, and occasionally wailing like a cop car on the way to a noise complaint in a rich neighbourhood. The three-piece came together interestingly, and I was happy to chat with them after the set. They actually met going to the Windmill. It only makes sense that their fifth show of all time would also be their third time playing here in Brixton. Follow them on Instagram to hear updates on the new music coming out in early 2026.
Gegenpress creates a unique atmosphere of tension like shoegaze, but with the explosive releases one craves and can dance to. Pauses within songs were so silent you could hear the bartenders cleaning pint glasses. They captivated with teasing false endings and drawn-out builds until a riff would come through and move the crowd. When asked about their chaotic composition, Gegenpress explained songs are made from “throwing shit at the wall”, aiming to “always stay extreme and exaggerating to be drastic” through “chopping and frankensteining” fragments together and “fleshing out nuggets of space”. You can find them playing at the Lexington on January 10th. Look out for their EP coming out in March.
Synth adds to the landscape of each song, setting Magda apart from other bands in the scene. Looking around the audience, one can easily spot the lead singer's girlfriend beaming at him, and his expression switches from distant to match her smile. Through the chaos and the come downs, the drum beat stays strong, keeping everyone dancing throughout. This contrasted the earlier bands, which would fully withhold to build tension. Smoke consumes the stage, and it is impossible to just stand still. After the set, their guitarist, Jack, told me what sets a gig apart from another. He said, “If when the song is done - are people talking. Silence is good - shows people are listening”. From home, you can listen too. Their EP is on Spotify titled Hole Punched in Cloud. You can see them live in New York this April at the New Colossus Festival.
The Windmill hosted a night that cannot easily be forgotten, with bands I cannot wait to see again. As they continue to develop, Windpipe shows great promise as a band to watch. The crowd was captivated by Gegenpress’s use of over- and understimulation. Magda’s set has the energy that everyone seeks out a live show be a part of. There was still a buzz from the show that followed me through the crisp walk back to Brixton station.
| Keywords: | London | Windpipe | Gegenpress | Magda | The Windmill |
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