Softer numbers. Cacophonous frenzies. Industrial breakdowns. Soaring choruses. It seems like there is very little that this band can’t do.
There is a buzz about Manchester this evening: it feels like the worst of winter has been overcome – the sky is burning a brilliant orange over the place and the city’s pubs and bars overspill into the streets once more. This evening, YES’ legendary Pink Room plays host to two exciting up and comers: Londoners Dog Race support their big-smoke comrades, Man/Woman/Chainsaw.
Dog Race open proceedings with aplomb. The band have been gathering notoriety and radio play thanks to their heady mixture of post-goth and electronica. They rattle through a short, sharp set, layering broody 80s synth over classically Peter Hook basslines. Frontwoman Katie Healy is a sight to behold on stage: she stalks and prowls the small space, firing off quickfire lyrics centring around dystopia, breakup trauma and just about everything in between. The whole performance is thunderous, weird and exhilarating – imagine Dry Cleaning doing Joy Division numbers.
Man/Woman/Chainsaw have been emerging prospects for some time – a product of teenage music college collaboration, the group have been playing together in one form or another since they were 14. Now the band are hitting their 20s and their time as a unit has already given them a solid grounding as a highly effective live outfit, working through a stellar set of angular, avant-rock with twists of punk, noise, post-rock and much more.
‘The Boss’ is the thrashing opener, which eventually simmers down to a frenetic and foreboding violin solo part, before the whole band crashes back in from leftfield. Their unique brand of noise has shades of new-era Black Country, New Road, the hardcore loud/quiet of Mogwai and guttural punky howls of Pixies. There are distinct classic rock influences, namely in the shape of the David Lynch-esque guitarist, who wields a spectacular Flying V guitar.
The band rumbles through cut after cut, each daring to showcase yet another layer of MWC’s sonic multitudes. There are softer numbers, cacophonous frenzies, industrial breakdowns and soaring choruses. It seems like there is very little that this band can’t do, and Man/Woman/Chainsaw are set for huge things.
featured image: Ella Margolin
