Bria Salmena shares her debut album ‘Big Dog’ with a short yet powerful performance at The Windmill
Bria brought her debut full-length to Brixton before heading back on tour with Wolf Alice.
Photo: Billie Wheeler
Bria Salmena, known for her work in the post-punk outfit FRIGS and for fronting Orville Peck’s live band, has long demonstrated an ability to move fluidly between musical worlds. During her performance at The Windmill Brixton, that versatility was made the centre of attention as she performed her debut solo album, Big Dog, in full.
The supporting sets from Wyatt and Little Grandad set the tone perfectly, their rocky and sharp-edged sounds complemented Salmena’s genre-fluid approach, all while bringing their own vibes and energy to the night. By the time Salmena took the stage, the audience was ready and eager, and she delivered a performance that surpassed even those high expectations.
Salmena opened the night with Drastic, a track that immediately established the album’s central themes of self-determination. Driven by sharp-edged guitar work, the song thrives on tension, mirroring the push and pull embedded in its lyrics. From there, she transitioned into Backs of Birds, which broadened the emotional palette without sacrificing the performance’s momentum. The song’s more reflective tone offered contrast and highlighted Salmena’s talent for vivid imagery.
Bending Over Backwards arrived early in the set and quickly stood out as one of the evening’s best and most tear-jerking performances. Then, midway through the set, Salmena stepped briefly outside her own catalogue with a stunning cover of Peaches’ Rags, then returning to Big Dog after the brief intermission, she launched into Hammer, one of the album’s most forceful tracks. This intensity gave way to Close to You, which offered one of the set’s most intimate moments.
Water Memory followed and emerged as a highlight of the night and considering the fact that it was live, it was a version that felt expansive yet grounded, demonstrating her control over emotional release. The album portion of the set closed with Stretch The Struggle, a track that has already earned its place as a fan favourite.
Across the performance, Salmena’s songwriting remained the focal point. Punk grit, country-leaning twang and indie rock introspection were woven together as tools in service of the songs. Heard live and in sequence, Big Dog revealed itself as a cohesive, deliberate body of work, one that rewards close attention and grows more resonant when played live. At The Windmill, Bria Salmena made a compelling case for her solo material on its own terms, proving that the strength of the project lies not in mood alone, but in sharply written songs that make for great performances and are built to last.
All photos by Billie Wheeler.