Tag Archives: John-Michael Hedley

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: O2 Ritz, Manchester 30th September 2023.

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Every time I write about Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, I always feel like I find something new to love about them. On record, they are one of the most thrilling bands around yet, after being obsessed with them for so long, tonight was my first time seeing them live. Whenever I had a ticket, something or someone would get in the way. Whether it be a clash of plans I couldn’t get out of or having a panic attack and having to miss out again- you name it, it’s stopped me from going. Reluctantly. Tonight, I finally got to see them. I’ve never felt so content at a gig. It was so loud, so beautiful and just out of this world.

Before I get into the show, I want to state that Matthew Baty is THE most powerful front man of any band around right now. The way he struts round the stage in his vest and shorts (I sound like I’m talking about a PE lesson from school when you’ve forgotten your kit!) like one of The Bushwhackers (if you’re a WWE fan you’ll get it.) A phenomenal band through and through.

I’ve been to enough loud gigs to last me a lifetime but trust me- this is up there with being one of the loudest. The love for this band is felt throughout the venue. I’m stood right at the back with a perfect view of everything, and the atmosphere is something else. Every single song is cheered with unifying admiration. This band have been together for around 11/12 years, and to see them play a venue like the Ritz is incredible. Matthew mentioned that the first time they ever played Manchester was in some warehouse, and now they are playing venues like this. They are a band that deserve to be heard, and like Matthew said- maybe now the music industry will take them seriously. Let’s be honest here, what the music industry thinks about Pigsx7 means nothing- all you need to do is go to their shows and you’ll see exactly why they are the best around.

The show is sheer justification of why they are the most entertaining and hypnotising bands around. They don’t do encores which personally, I am in favour of. Either stay on the stage and a play a few more or just leave!

The setlist rips from start to finish. You want loud? You’ve got it and so much more! They end their set with A66, and it felt like every song felt like a lead up to that moment. My god this setlist, this show- out of this world. Reducer? Insane! GNT? Mind-blowing. You got the hits and so much more, and even though it was my first time seeing the band it will definitely not be my last. Far from it! They opened with the face-melting Mr Medicine, and that was enough for us to all quickly realise that this was going to be one hell of a night. My ears hurt the morning after, but that’s what you want from a band like this. Beautifully loud. There is something really magical about this band, and their live shows truly show how incredible they are. Every single song is delivered with this euphoric passion that makes you question how you’ve got through life without experiencing this before.

For me, it was all about finally seeing World Crust- this one just blew me away. I’m pretty sure I had this weird grin on my face throughout the whole show, but this one was next level. I felt proper joy at this show, and it’s a joy I didn’t think I’d feel but turns out, I can! I guess all isn’t so bad afterall. The comfort I find in this band is like nothing else, and their live shows are an extension of how phenomenal they are. I urge anyone and everyone to see them live. Even if this isn’t your type of music, the atmosphere alone will change your mind and probably like me, you’ll want to be at their shows every night.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: Land Of Sleeper.

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Are you looking for the loudest record of the year? Do you want something that’ll burst your eardrums in the most pleasant way possible? Pigsx7 have gone and done it with their new record, Land Of Sleeper. 8 songs that are sheer delight, absolute carnage and beautifully loud.

Writing about this band brings me so much joy. I just LOVE them. They combine everything I love about music, and everything I want from music and just make something that is effortlessly slick and charming. This morning on the way to work, I had a horrible pain in my chest. I knew what was coming- it was the start of a panic attack. I needed to somehow tame my mind to deter something from happening. I started to listen to some meditation for anxiety on Spotify. I found myself getting wound up over the persons voice and how it felt like they were being patronising. I hated it. I needed something but I didn’t know what. So, I went and found something to listen to. Again, I found myself turning to Pigsx7. I tuned into the new record once more. I don’t know what happened, but I felt almost calm. My brain was tame, the pain in my chest wasn’t as bad. I was alright. It probably seems strange to have something so loud be a calming force- but that’s just what they do. I don’t know if it’s the vocals or the heaviness of the sound. It just feels like a massive grip around me offering reassurance.

It is such an incredible record, and I know I say it every time I write about Newcastle’s finest- but there is something about this band that is so magical and so euphoric. There’s this aggression in the music and vocals that doesn’t make you feel threatened- it makes you feel quite safe. Every time they’ve toured something has gotten in the way of me seeing them but I’m determined to see them this year. I just need to. I have to. They’re the kind of band that you have to really focus on. You can’t just mindlessly play a song and be like, “oh this is nice.” You have to really soak it all in, and I think that’s why listening to them this morning when I felt awful truly helped. I wasn’t aware of anything or anyone around me- just this record. I think it was Big Rig that saved my brain this morning, but if I’m honest- every song on this record is a dream to listen to.

The vibrations in the songs, the way every song moves you in a psychedelic way allowing you to be free with your limbs and screaming the words back at Matt is just insane. You can hear how they poured their everything into this record, and it’s evident in their previous records. This band don’t make shit songs- ever. They don’t have one bad song. They are consistently excellent, and Land Of Sleeper massively shows this. Every song is a call to action and a bolt of reassurance for the soul. Most of the songs on the record last over 5 minutes, and I think for me that’s part of the attraction. I love how their songs feel like stories or a journey. I feel like I’m being taken into a sacred world and Pigsx7 are the leaders. I’ve said it before but when I listen to them- i feel like I’m listening to Melvins and Sleep for the first time. Those two bands are vital and shaped a lot of the music I listen to, and to hear a band like Pigsx7- they complete my holy trinity in a way! I honestly cannot praise this record enough. I’m going back to Big Rig again- the last 2 minutes of this songs turn into some obscure instrumental that will blow your mind. You can’t help but dig it- it’s incredible!

Land Of Sleeper is made up of anthems that need to be heard as loud as possible. There’s this raw energy on this record that has developed from each record they’ve put out- this is THEIR record, and I love how you can tell that they have and always will make music that is for THEM and no one else. It’s how THEY want to sound. Perfection is subjective, but come on now- this is another perfect record by the band. There’s a lot of pent up emotions and rage being released on this record.

For me, a lot of the songs have that same outpouring that’s on Release The Bats by The Birthday Party. I can’t explain it- I just know that there’s a similar link in how it’s poured out. I’m just in awe of this record and how yet again, Pigsx7 have gone and done it with another masterpiece.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: King Of Cowards.

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With just six songs, the new record by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs just instantly blows your mind, bursts your eardrum and fills you with this eternal rapture. The record opens with GNT which is probably the best opener to any record I’ve heard in a long time. The record is menacing. The record feels like something you’d play to conjure up something from the underworld. It’s an incredible record. It’s just absolutely mind-bending, life-changing and really really loud.

Before I really get into this record, I just hope our next generation, and the generation after that get into bands like Pigs and keep this sound alive. The musicianship is out of this world. To create something this loud, this off the wall and important takes guts, and Pigs sure as hell have them. The songs are proper anthemic which are created to just rip you apart, and totally devour your soul. You don’t mind the band taking every piece of you, because the music is that powerful. The passion in Matt’s voice is insane. He sounds like a preacher with a cult following- we will all listen and cling to his words. The sheer heaviness of this band and the way they sound together reminds me of two of my all-time favourite bands- Sleep and Melvins. They make me feel exactly the same way I did when I first heard these bands a long time ago. They just fill you with excitement because FINALLY we have a band making heavy music that has some bite to it.

There’s only five of them in the band, but on this record they make you feel like you’re listening to a Stoner Rock orchestra. It’s nothing but genius. That’s the only word to describe them. Some may have labelled last year’s release, Feed The Rats as being quite difficult to listen to- but I don’t get it. Three songs that last ages, and with every listen they just make your brain go off into the unknown. Have they done the same with King Of Cowards? Come on now, you KNOW they have.

Right now I’m calling A66 as my favourite. I love how it just feels like your whole being is turning to mush, and as you melt into the ground- the band take what is left of you and create something no other band has ever dared to do. They push themselves, they push the listener and I love that so much. They’ll make you feel uncomfortable with first listen- especially this song. At times it’ll feel like white noise echoing in your ears and shattering your skull, but before the song is done- you’ll be hooked. There is no band like this right now, and thank fuck we have them. They’re playing Manchester soon, but I’m a twat and I didn’t get a ticket. Guess I’ll have to wait until April for the next one!

This record aside, you just know that Pigs are a band that HAVE to be seen live. When A66 goes right into Thumbsucker, you just know that their live shows would leave you hard of hearing for weeks. It doesn’t matter anyway, because nothing will sound as glorious as them. I love tranquil bands like Warpaint and Beach House so much, but there’s part of my brain that craves bands like Pigs to just unleash everything that gets held back. I love nothing more than listening to them stupidly loud, and getting completely lost in how phenomenal they are. I know they aren’t for everyone, but anyone can hear just how brilliant they are. The have this huge sound that stays ringing in your brain for hours after you’ve listened to them.

Some music is just destined to be played loud. There’s no other way to listen to King Of Cowards other than brutally loud. I’ve always had such love and respect for them, and what they’ve done with this record has totally blown me away. I’m in awe of how great they are- I always knew they were, but they’ve truly done something else with this record. You’ll never know what you’re going to get with them, and that’s one of the many reasons as to why I’m obsessed with them.

Buy the record, go to the shows and don’t wear earplugs when you go see them. Absorb in all the noise, the sweat, the limb flailing and just get right into it.