Show Review: Wish, Sounds of Rayyne, René Mills at The George Tavern, London.
February 11th, 2026.
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“Welcome to old England”
February 12th, 2026
You did not need to read the sign to know you had made it to The George Tavern; the bass was clear from across Commercial Road. Inside, René Mills was finishing their sound check. From the brief preview, it was hard to stay patient while awaiting them to take the stage again. The lights finally dimmed, and the night had officially begun with René Mills on first before Sounds of Rayyne and Wish.
The first thing that grabs the audience while listening to René Mills is the incredible voice of their frontwoman. With strength and control, she leads. Their sound is in blues rock without the garage modifier modern bands typically require. The nuance and atmosphere they create is not limited by unnecessary fuzz and simplification. René Mills does not sound like any first opener I have ever heard before. Their set showcases talent that belongs on a stage overlooking a stadium, to only be followed by an encore. J’aime (vocals) told me she has been singing all her life and joined René Mills when Cameron (guitar) connected with her on Band Mix. Cameron told her they were looking for a singer to join their band with Hendrix and Zeppelin influences. J’aime wants singers and songwriters to know that if anything is not going as planned, “never lose sight of your vision”.
Moss (drums) and Jordan (guitar) of René Mills returned to the stage with Sounds of Rayyne. Rayyne also shares 70s influences, but through a more psychedelic lens. Typically, old-school influences refer to riffs and rhythms, but Rayyne chooses to include singing the words “woman” and “honey” in a tone expected of someone wearing Penny Lane’s jacket. Grooves were light and catchy throughout. After the set, when asked about the band's origins, Jake (vocals/guitar) said he met the band a week after a spiritual ritual involving the burning of paper. As I said goodbye, he said, “welcome to old england”
Wish has the stage presence every band dreams of possessing. From the front row, you can watch the frontman’s eyes roll back while leading the chaos controlled by the bass and drums. Drums, which were being hit so hard, “Save The George Tavern” written on the kick drum was dancing with the audience. What stands out the most when listening to Wish is the melodies coming from the saxophone. When all bands are fighting to stand out, Wish is uniquely and genuinely an original. After the set, Henry (bass) told me he met Milo (vocals/guitar) in the street. Milo wanted to join a band and saw that Henry was carrying his bass, so they walked away with the names “Harry” and “Mo” saved in their phones. They were playing together at a houseparty when they met Kitcatt (drums) and Bailey (sax) through her other band, Aunties. Follow them on Instagram to hear when their EP comes out this Spring.
After tonight, The George Tavern has earned its place as a personal favorite venue in London. From when René Mills took the stage, the only concern was how any band could manage to follow them. Sounds of Rayyne answered quite literally by carrying on sequentially to the second half of the 70s. Finally, it was Wish that truly moved and captivated the crowd. This was the kind of gig that makes you remember why you love live music and return to the station dreaming of joining a band.
| Keywords: | London | The George Tavern | Wish | Sounds of Rayyne | René Mills |
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