Tag Archives: Music

SPUCKE: Zustland.

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SPUCKE are a brilliant band, and although their songs are in German and I have NO idea what is being said for the most part (I translated some of the songs, and their message is solid) what I do know, is that their music is everything you’d want from a rowdy Punk band. Translation of the band name is spit which lets you instantly know that this band have something to say- and you’re gonna sit back and listen! Every song is played with everything they have. The words are said with all their chest, and will ring in your eardrums for days. Let them do it, you’ll feel better.

Their debut record came out a few weeks ago (I’m assuming it’s their debut because I can’t find anything else online about them) and if this is what they sound like with just one record, then we should be afraid of what they are capable of. Go ahead and give this band the world, they deserve it. But only the good parts.

I love the obnoxious tone in The Armrest; they don’t want to share their armrest with you on the bus/tram/train with you, and they already took their feet off the seat- what more do you want from them?! It’s an unserious number but it’s still a great song, and it’s another example of why they are one of the best Punk bands around. The sound all the way through on this record is delicious and you can’t help but want more.

I really love Beton Verzeiht Nie (concrete never forgives, I think is the translation) and how it is delivered with this urgency and you can feel that at the bones of it, it’s like a cry for help or a cry out of desperation. Don’t let that put you off, because it can be that desperation and urgency that drives a band to create something truly remarkable. Case in point on this record for sure!

For me, SPUCKE deliver feelings of hopelessness, angry and desperation in a way that’s not been done like this in a while. There is something there in these songs that stops you, and you’re like, “Ah fuck man! I feel this way too!” And you don’t feel totally at a loss by carrying it around. This is the kind of record you play when you go for a walk on your own, and you just need some time to process whatever is going on in your head. You know, there are so many moments on this record that just leave you in awe and another great example is Aversion Gegen Teile (I think means Aversion To Parts, I could be wrong here.) It’s just over 4 minutes long, and it is dark. It’s a proper heavy number. The kind of song you let consume you at 4pm on a foggy October afternoon when the streets are strangely quiet. It’ll haunt you but in the best way possible. Of all the songs on this record, I think this one may stick with me the most.

As someone who is so scared of flying, SPUCKE make me wish I could go to Germany and get lost in the Punk scene there. But instead, I’ll just listen to the music. Close my eyes and pretend I am there. They’re the kind of band that give their all in their live shows, and I hope one day I get to see them because this is the kind of energy and sound, I want to seep into my eardrums and never leave.

In just 9 songs, SPUCKE have made their mark. They have absolutely made a lasting impression on me, and I hope when I’m 80 years old, I am blasting out their music and having a great time and maybe annoy my neighbours with how loud I’m playing it. They have that snarly energy that Dead Boys had, and when you find a band that can do that- cling onto them.

Lyrically, their songs are heavy and sound wise too they will blow your mind. They are unlike anything else I’ve heard or heard in a long time, and I really hope we hear more from them because this record is too great to be a one-off for sure. If you get the chance to see them live, take it. I feel they will change your world for the better.

If you live in the UK, and you want the record- No Front Teeth Records will sort you out!

GOLD CUP.

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I’m going to assume people have known about Gold Cup longer than I have. I only really listened to them just after they were announced as the support for Crocodiles, and STUPIDLY missed them by minutes at the Low Four x Sour Grapes recording earlier in the month. What an idiot!

Alright, errors aside- it’s time to really tell you why Gold Cup are one of the most exciting bands around and why you need to see this band play any chance you get. I’ve been very lucky to see them support two great bands- Crocodiles and Gee Tee. Imagine being in a band, and you get to support those bands?! Life would surely have peaked, right?! They’ll be headlining soon enough but for now, I want to do my best to tell you why they are incredible.

On record, they are everything you could want from a band. They are noisy, they make a racket and it’s a joy to listen to. Is it the same live? Yes and no. Yes, because they are loud. No because the experience of seeing them live is way more heightened than on record. At their live shows, the three of them play with this energy that makes you wish you could watch them every single night. I wish I could. They just exude everything I want from a band and more. I feel like I’m 13 years old and listening to The Cramps for the first time. They’ve got this sound that would probably scare your neighbours but within a few hours, they too would be fans.

Their debut full length record has yet to arrive, but when it does, I have every faith in it being one of the best things we will hear. Their new single, I Feel Incredible is the true essence of sheer Garage Rock ‘n’ Roll and they sure as shit take you on another wild ride! There are bands you can liken them to but let’s be honest- Gold Cup are evidently in their own league. They remind me fair bit of a band from L.A. called Girl Tears. The band don’t make music anymore, but when I tell you I was obsessed with them- I am putting it mildly. Gold Cup have that same feel, and it’s just so great to hear.

There are some bands I love, and when I listen to them, I think, if I made music- that’s how I’d want to sound or be influenced by. Gold Cup are a band to add to that list. If you’ve seen them live, you will know that they play with all that they have. I have never seen a drummer like Tomas before. I’ve not seen anyone make the bass look as cool as Dan does, and Josh is a master on that guitar. Put all three of them together and you have something truly phenomenal and well worth becoming obsessed over. If you are ever presented with the chance to see them live, you better take it. Bands like this don’t happen often. Manchester is the home to some incredible bands, and Gold Cup are in some solid company.

They’ve been around for a few years now, and with the EPs they’ve released so far, it’s pretty safe to say that they have a clear indication of their sound, and that confidence is what makes them stand out. They’re a band you could never get bored of, and I reckon when their debut full length record hits, it will definitely show the world something it hasn’t heard before. Their live shows will leave you in total awe of them. Songs like Stuck On Repeat and The Piss Has Been Taken are insane live. I just really love this band!

Go listen to them, go to their shows, and go nuts!

MAQUINA : Body Transmission.

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One of the coolest things about music, and bands and just EVERYTHING about music is release day for a record you are SO excited to hear.

I’ve loved MAQUINA for a couple of years, and today their second full length record, Body Transmission is out there. It’s fully out there for everyone to enjoy, play to death and dance to. Now, as it’s been released via Fuzz Club- you just know it’s going to be sensational, right? Right on.

The record starts exactly how you would expect; with one of their most recent releases (dança – featuring Dame Area) and from then on, it’s all go. Every song gets louder and louder. That urgency to move more gets you, and you can’t help but feel you are being sucked into a new world. This world that MAQUINA have already created with their sound is unlike anything else, we already know this. But with Body Transmission, every song feels like you are being ripped out of your body and into something else. That’s one of the many reasons as to why you know you are dealing with something really magical.

Any free time I’ve had today, I have played this record. I played it twice at the gym, and I can confirm that this is a record to lift weights to. There are some strong gym jams on this record, and I reckon it is going to become my most listened record of the year right next to the new Crocodiles record. Those are my solid top 2 records of the year. My mind will not be changed, or swayed. It’s already set. For me, my favourite song on the record is Bizzaro closely followed by Step On Me. I cannot wait to hear these two songs live in September. If you’ve seen MAQUINA live, you will know that their live shows are not to be fucked with. You feel like you’ve had the most intense work out of your life after you’ve been to their shows, and you find yourself unsure if life will ever make sense again. On stage and on record, that feeling remains. After you’ve played Body Transmission once, you go back to it over and over. There’s something in this record that leaves you wanting more, and you notice EVERY detail on it. When I tell you that this is one of the best produced records of the past few years- believe me. I don’t lie, and I know everything is down to taste- but this record is next level. But that’s MAQUINA all over.

Speaking about the record, the band have said: “We wanted it to feel heavy, focused, and relentless.” They have captured this effortlessly. It is a heavy record, and also really liberating. This is a record to play as loud as you can, wherever you can. If I went to a coffee shop at 8am and this record was blasting out, I would know I was about to have the best day ever. It’s a record that looks at music genre and says “NAH, NOT FOR ME!” It’s beyond any description. Sure, there are electro moments, there are heavy moments and there are more often than not- moments where you just have to move. All of this means that MAQUINA make music that appeals to everyone. They’re for everyone, and you really get that when you go to their shows. Sure, it’s a sweat fest, but it’s also the most liberating place you can imagine.

Body Transmission feels like a million frequencies going right through your body, and all you can do is give in to it. It’s a record that is made with care and must be heard with urgency. I challenge anyone to not fall in love with this band and this record. Everything they did with PRATA, they have done all over again with Body Transmission times a billion, and more. It’s a truly exceptional record.

The way that Halison can scream his lungs out and play the drums in this ferocious manner is just enthralling. João just RUINS the guitar on this record, and he does the same on stage. He’s incredible. The guitar is his weapon, and you can’t help but dig every note, every sound. Mendy again annihilates the bass on this record, and you feel it echo in your ears and starts to thump at your throat and before you know it- all these sounds crash around you, and you have a phenomenal record in your presence. It’s a masterpiece, and it’ll make you fall in love with music all over again.

If you’ve made it this far, and you want more- you can catch the band on tour over the summer and September. You’ve GOT to see them!

Body Transmission is out now via Fuzz Club Records.

CASUAL DRAG @ The Peer Hat, Manchester. 3rd July 2026

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After waiting years to finally see them and after writing about them loads, I got to see Casual Drag play possible THE hottest venue in Manchester- The Peer Hat. I’ve been to a fair few gigs there, and I don’t recall it ever being that hot. I think my eyeballs were sweating.

I also cannot hear out my right ear, so I’m assuming a good night was had!

As short as their set was, they played with all the passion and fury you would expect from a band as great as this. It was truly lovely to see so many people there to see them, and also bands from Scotland just play with slightly more bite.

What drew me to their sounds a few years ago is truly captured in their live shows. I knew it was going to be loud, but I didn’t expect to fully lose my hearing in my right ear (I’m going to see Bruise Control later so hopefully that’ll put everything back into place!) Man, they ripped right through their set last night. We got all the hits, all the jams! They played The Master, I Like It, The Talk, Out Of Sight and many more. They were just a joy to watch.

They played Johnny too which was INSANE! I think that may have been my favourite one, but it’s hard to choose with a band like this.

The energy they have is unreal, and I honestly have no idea how Matt (drummer) didn’t pass out. Richard’s vocals are as crisp as they are on record, and his guitar is a weapon you don’t want to cross. Dominic is effortlessly slick with the bass. And they just play in a way that makes you truly back them, and just love them more than you already do. The way all 3 of them play is just a delight to watch, and I’ve honestly not seen someone play the drums as intensely as Matt does. All 3 of them play as if their lives depend on it, and I guess when you’re in a band that make music as hard and as furious as this, you kind of have to. I’d say I’d watch this band play every night, but I doubt my ears would be grateful for damaging them. But hey, if you’re not a little damaged after a gig- have you had a nice time? Probably not!

I really love finally being able to see a band I’ve loved for son long play live, because everything you first loved about them just gets heightened in that moment. It doesn’t matter the size of the venue; it just matters that you finally get to experience it. I’d honestly urge anyone who gets the chance to see Casual Drag live to absolutely take it. Maybe wear some earplugs though or don’t stand so close to the front. Thinking about it, maybe this is my own fault….

What I love about their live show is that they sound exactly the same as they do on record. They’ve been doing this a while now, and they deserve way more than they get because they truly are something else live. It is an injustice that they aren’t massive, but it’ll happen. So many incredible bands have come from Glasgow, and Casual Drag are easily in the Top 5 for sure. Everything always seems louder when you witness it live, and that’s part of the charm. They have something to prove, and my god they did just that last night.

Casual Drag have that raw basement DIY Punk/Garage sound that does own my heart (and ears) and not only are bands like this vital for the scene in general, but they are so important to real grassroots venues like The Peer Hat. Live music is so important, and that importance was truly felt last night.

PINS @ Bootleg Social, Blackpool. 15th May 2026.

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I realised last night that after seeing PINS play a hell of a lot of times, I’ve never seen them play in our home city of Manchester. It’ll happen one day, and when it does it will be bloody beautiful. Instead, it was a trip last night to the seaside to see them play the Bootleg Social in Blackpool. This is a brilliant venue, and you can really tell it is such a vital part of Blackpool and it’s very easy to see why. You get a really community feel the second you step in, and you never want to leave. An incredible venue.

The band take to the stage at 9pm and start with Baby Bhangs. 10 years on, and it still feels like you’re hearing it for the first time. What I loved about this set is that we got a mix from every record. Baby Bhangs is the perfect way to open the set, and it sets the tone perfectly. Family of the band were in the crowd last night, and of course ended up on stage for Girls Like Us. Faith tried to get us up there, but I was way too shy. We compromised by me holding her mic until she got back onto the stage. I could have had my real moment there to belt out a number but 1- I cannot sing and 2- I cannot sing. When Faith said back to the band, “They don’t want to come up!” Lois replied with the wonderful, “We’ll take it to them!” And oh boy they did! I’ve seen PINS play many times with different members, but I can honestly say that this lineup of PINS is an absolute dream to watch. They play so well together, and you can really really feel the love on the stage, and it fall perfectly into the laps of the crowd.

I think I’ve said it every single time I’ve written about their shows, but you will not find anyone love being on stage as much as Lois. The way she bounces around on the stage and sings every word into the crowd even when it isn’t her part is adorable, and I think that is one of the many reasons as to why this band are so easy to love and quite clearly  go see every show you can wherever you can! I’ll be holding out for a Manchester show for now!

The setlist was a slice of heaven and then some! For me, it was the surprise of hearing All Hail live. I didn’t expect it to make an appearance and to finally see it live was insane! Trouble is ALWAYS a dream to see live as is Too Little, Too Late- which I think I may have hurt my throating singing along to! Dazed By You will ALWAYS own a piece of my heart, and getting to sing along to this with the person I love the most stood next to me meant a lot. It’s the most perfect, dreamy song.

On the drive home, I said it should be a crime how underrated and how underappreciated PINS are. They are one of the best bands to not only have come from Manchester, but in general. I just absolutely adore them. They’re one of those bands that you don’t get tired of listening to or seeing live. There’s a handful of bands I love that I would happily see play live every night, and PINS are easily in that list. Top 3 for sure! There’s something really special about seeing a band play who you can tell love each other and being on stage together, it’s truly inspiring stuff. I’ve probably said it before, but I really hope some young kid sees PINS play or hears their music and is inspired to make their own noise too. They have that about them, and that is something to be treasured.

Every song on the setlist deserved its place from Serve The Rich to Young Girls to If Only. I will say that If Only is a song that over time, I’ve felt more connected to. The lyrics are so pure and hit you right in the heart. Much like the delicate Got It Bad. The love in the songs and the observations are another reason as to why PINS will always own a piece of my heart. I just love them, and I am so happy that they are still out there touring. They deserve to sell out every venue they play and are a band that you’ve just GOT to see live.

I was in my own world last night as I watched them play. Nothing mattered outside of that room, and that’s how live music should be. PINS play with this effortlessly slick and cool energy, and even though I’m older than them- when I grow up, I want to be as cool as PINS.

CROTEAU: Silent Sound.

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What do YOU know about the Isle of Man? Let’s be honest, not a lot. Not a lot happens there. Not a lot to do, nowhere to go. I grew up there, and I have a love/hate relationship with the place. There are some stunning beaches there but if you want to feel shit, then walk round Douglas town centre. HOWEVER, I will say that there have been and there are some brilliant bands that have come from the little rock in the middle of the Irish Sea, and I am SO happy to write about the debut record from the best band around from there- Croteau.

Croteau have been around for a few years and fun fact, and also a way to make me feel old- I went to high school with guitarist Ali’s mum. Croteau are everything you could want from a local band who are evidently going places. Their sound is pretty much unlike anything else around, and it’s that rage and level of ferociousness in their sound that makes them so appealing.

What I’ve really loved seeing the lead up to the release was the band sharing music and books that have inspired the record. A lot of it includes books and bands I was listening to from like 14/15 and still do. Knowing that writers like Camus, Bukowski, Burroughs and of course the greatest- Ginsberg are being shown to younger generations still gives me a lot of hope. Punk ain’t dead- it’s everywhere. Some bands that inspired the record are New York Dolls, TJAMC, Fugazi, The Stooges- come on now! You can hear it right in the record, and it is so fucking cool. I always thought my uncle was the coolest person on the Isle of Man and was in the best band from there (The 13th Pillar closely followed by The Bastinados with THEE coolest of ‘em all, Raz) but Croteau are definitely up there. They’re the best new band from the IOM for sure and absolutely the loudest. I really hope some UK promoters get hold of them and get them over to the UK because there are so many venues that their sound could beautifully destroy. YES Basement or The Castle in Manchester would be ideal for them. Alright, so praise aside for everything they do. I need to go into the record. Buckle up.

13 songs. 13 perfectly crafted Punk anthems. These are the songs that some kid in Year 7 or 8 on the Isle of Man is listening to as they walk the corridors waiting for the day to end because the walls at school trap you. I say this as someone who had the worst time in high school. Music was my escape. Some kid trying to find their way is going to be listening to this record as they go about their day and it’s going to grip ‘em, and by Year 9 they will have found their people and started their own band. It may not be this year; it could be in a few years. But they will find this record when the time is right for them, and they’ll have their mind blown and eardrums ripped wide open and ruined in the best way possible.

Every song needs to be played loud and maybe go louder than you think with this one. I absolutely love the song Mandy- it’s one I keep going back to, and what I love about this record is that I feel like I’m finding bands like the Ramones or The Stooges or MC5 for the first time, and I’m being sucked into this world where anything is possible but I’m also angry at how fucked the world is. Every song is an anthem just crying out to be screamed back at the band. Fragile Piece? Genius. Loaded Gun? Work of art. Manic? 34 seconds of angst-ridden BLISS. The whole record oozes rage in all the right forms, and the want for change but also knowing the world is corrupt. There are no tender moments here. There is nothing but beautiful loudness and urgency.

Play this record loud enough to disturb your neighbours, and your neighbour’s neighbour and beyond. Throw your body around to Get Nowhere. Get those frustrations out. They’re the most dangerous band on the Isle of Man, don’t you know! This is the kind of danger we need. That bite and that passion in the music.

If this is how they sound on their debut record, then there’s no telling what their future holds. They’ve got IT man. Whatever you want a band to have, Croteau have got IT.

The kids are gonna be alright. It’s adults that are the problem.

CROCODILES: Greetings From Hell.

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Tomorrow my buddies and also one of my all time favourite bands release their 9th record (that’s if we don’t count the three Shitty Times records.) What can they do on record number 9 that they haven’t already done?!

Well, EVERYTHING. What I love about Crocs is that even though they have a distinctive sound (it’s in Brandon’s voice, and it’s in Charlie and Brandon’s guitar style- always) but they also manage to give you something you’ve not heard before. I remember finding their music in 2008/9, and I hadn’t heard anything like it before. That feeling is there with every record they put out and they’ve truly excelled once again on Greetings From Hell. The title for the record makes me think of The Cramps, who are according to me and those with good taste, are one of the best bands of all time. I’m only two songs in but I can tell you this is my record of the year.

Let’s Be Strangers is going to be up there as one of my favourite songs of the years. It’s a got a fuck you/fuck off feel to it, I’m always down with that. There are so many things to adore about this record, and to make you truly fall all the way back in love with Crocodiles all over again. It’s only been 3 years since their last record, and in that time they’ve both continued to work on their equally great side projects (Crush of Souls and Psychic Pigs- both are different from each other, and just phenomenal.) I do have some fear inside that they’ll stop making records as Crocodiles one day, but I hope that day comes when Charlie and Brandon are like 90 years old, and need a rest. Let’s not think about it, ha! So back to the record.

I Dream Of Genet is a billion percent a title of a song that Patti Smith would love, right? It’s a real catchy number and I hope they do this on tour because it will be a joy to witness. That’s one of the things I truly love about Crocodiles- it’s their live shows. I saw them last year in Newcastle, and I can honestly say that out of the 20+ times I’ve seen them- THAT was their best show for me. There was something about the venue, the company, the setlist and everything in between- it was just an honour to be in that crowd that night. I obviously feel a huge sense of pride when I listen to Crocodiles, and that feeling is very much there for this record. Every record is them at their very best, and this is truly one of the best things they’ve ever done. I know my opinion is hugely biased but, in this case, I know I’m right.

Brandon and Charlie met nearly 30 years ago in San Diego at an antifascist gathering (always on the right side of history these two, and will ALWAYS speak up for what’s right) and you can really hear their bond on this record. They may live on opposite sides of the world (Paris and Los Angeles) but that doesn’t stop them from making the most perfect record every single time. I guess distance does make the heart grow fonder. The 10 songs on this record are a prime example of why Crocs are the best at what they do. If you’re someone who has never listened to them (firstly, where have you been?! My own mother loves this band!) Greetings From Hell is a great starting point and work your way backwards. There’s something really special about their music, and every record for me, is right there when I need it. Music is that best friend that’s always there with no condition or expectation. That’s why I really love this band- they’ve been there through the good and bad, and I couldn’t imagine a world without their sounds!

Every single song on this record has been crafted in the most delightful way you could imagine. Listening to a new Crocs record is like going home, or having your favourite meal or drink, or hanging with your favourite person and/or cat. It’s familiar and it feels like home. For me, the band are home. The ultimate safe space. The ultimate band. The record is Crocodiles at their very best and songs like Whips and Chains are MADE to be heard live. The record picks up from where Upside Down In Heaven left off, and that’s something I love about Crocodiles. Every record picks up from where the previous left off, but always ALWAYS gives you something new and a reason to keep on fallin’ back in love with them.

I don’t normally do this, but I want to dedicate what I’ve written to a very special and cool person who we sadly lost this week- Gregg Foreman. Gregg was such an important person to music and to those who love music. From his work with the Delta 72 to Cat Power to Gossip to L.A. Witch and to Crocodiles. Not forgetting Lydia Lunch too. There’s many, many more he worked with. Everyone loved him, and now- everyone will miss him. So much about Gregg reminds me of Raz, and that’s why this loss hits harder than it may have done. Every day Gregg would post his gratitude list on Instagram, and I’d look forward to it every day because you knew he meant every word and the world around him meant so much. I hope wherever he is now, he knows how loved he is and is at peace. And I hope he’s up there creating the best band in the world with Johnny Thunders, Rowland S. Howard and Lux. Imagine the noise. Forever our Moth.

Greetings From Hell by Crocodiles is out tomorrow via Invisible Hits, and like their last record is produced by the excellent Jonah Falco.

You can order the record here: https://crocodilesband.bandcamp.com/album/greetings-from-hell

Play the record loud. Hug your mates. Go see Crocodiles live.

BRUISE CONTROL: Record Release Shows 2026

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ALL ABOARD THE BRUISE CRUISE!!!!

Where do I even begin writing about the Bruise Control record release shows? Over the weekend they played Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester. I went to two out of three. VERY Nearly did them all but didn’t.

The first show was at Crash Records in Leeds on Saturday just gone. About 15 of us (maybe less) were cramped in this excellent record shop. How on earth could a place so small contain the sound of Bruise Control? Well, to be fair it didn’t. Jim marched up and down the shop, he even opened the front door and sang to the good people of Leeds. When I say sing, he absolutely screamed at them, and it was beautiful. Maybe he scared someone at the bus stop with their shopping or maybe, they became their new favourite band. Let’s go with the latter because there is nowt scary about the Bruisers! There was a very slight incident where a beer was spilt on the floor and Jim nearly blew the place up (total exaggeration but go with it.) In the end, Jim did most of the set at the back of the shop whilst stood on the counter. He couldn’t cause any mischief up there (he absolutely could and he did, and this is why we LOVE Bruise Control.) At the end I told him it was like the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts gone wild. Hopefully, the owners at Crash Records have forgiven these angels. You don’t book a band like Bruise Control and expect nothing rowdy to happen. It was such a joy to see them play to such a small crowd, and it’ll definitely be the last time they play to such a small number of people because they deserve to be selling out every stage possible. A sound so big cannot be contained and neither can their energy. The way they are with each other is just gorgeous too. I’ve never seen a band with such a bond with each other and such love for everyone around them. Their stage presence is next level, and that’s the Manchester charm through and through.

Now we move onto Monday nights show. The band played the Basement at YES. It holds around 60 people give or take. I’ve never been to this part of YES before and it pretty much became my favourite venue. A real dive bar with such a stunning atmosphere. My favourite venue is the Shacklewell Arms, and I miss that place so much, and for the past 8 years of being in Manchester, I’ve been trying to find a venue that I hold that dearly. The Basement at YES does this and more. I could happily be there every night!

The band are on stage at 8 and are done by 8.45. We’re home by half 9. This is BLISS. There is no better way to spend a Monday night than seeing the band you absolutely adore rip apart a venue. The crowd were a dream too, and honestly, Bruise Control fans are pretty much the kindest and best people you’ll ever meet. What I love about Bruise Control shows is that, although they are beyond rowdy and loud- you will feel so safe there. The world outside doesn’t matter at all, and sometimes (most of the time) we need that. We need that safe space and to just let it all out. Jim sprinting into the crowd a couple of times was also a highlight! He cannot be contained- let him be free!

Niall’s dad was at the show, and I remember seeing the band support Amyl And The Sniffers at the Albert Hall in 2022- it felt like their show, and I remember Jim’s mum (I think) on the balcony a row in front of me singing along. It was so beautiful. You can’t help but be proud of this band. They are everything Punk should be. They are everything a community should be. Writing about them and getting to share how much I love them brings me so much joy. And I hope someone out there who may not have heard of them before, goes and listens to them and falls in love with them like I did back in 2022.

The new songs are INSANE live, and of all the times I’ve seen them- the show on Monday was IT. I thought their show at SOUP last year was it, and nothing could top it. But this was something else. 60 of us in a dark basement on Monday night- the ideal setting for the best band around.

They all truly shone at this show. Tommy is an INSANE drummer, Niall is an unreal guitarist, Jim is THE best frontman around and Ruby makes you wish you could be as cool as her; she makes playing bass look so effortlessly easy. They’re all exceptional at what they do, and they are easily one of the few bands I could watch play every night and just never ever get tired. My ears may hate me, but who cares!?

UP THE BRUISERS!

CLUB LEX.

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So, if I was to pin down my dream sound in a band it would be something along the lines of the smoothness of Sade, the energy and style of The Cramps and The Gun Club, the slickness of Ritchie Valens, the essence of the Ramones and the delightful strangeness of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Put that altogether and you’d have my ideal sound. I’ve found it in many bands I’ve written about (or not yet written about) and in bands I absolutely adore. In everything, I look for the same feeling I got when I heard Seventeen Seconds record by The Cure and Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain.

I only heard of Club Lex a couple of days ago where I saw they were playing a show with Divorce Finance (insane band!) and wanted to check them out. I am SO glad I did because I THINK I have found my new favourite band. The capture everything I love about music, everything I’d want my dream band to sound like. They are just perfect. I think the drummer is the lead singer so that’s another cool thing about them! They absolutely do sound a bit like The Cramps which is always a good thing. They have a sound that resembles the A Date With Elvis, which is fine by me! It’s up there as one of my favourite records. Club Lex have (I think) one release out, and it’s an EP from last year called Welcome To The Club.

Welcome To The Club is a perfect introduction to the band, and these 5 songs were made to fry your brain and hypnotise your mind and body. These 5 songs are bloody powerful, and they do make you feel like you urgently need more. We all have to be patient here. It’s such a strong record, and the whole thing feels like it could be the soundtrack to a really twisted film. Shirley definitely feels like it could be on the soundtrack to a questionable and creepy film. The best songs give off that feeling and Club Lex do it so, so well. Although they are a relatively new band, their sound does make you feel as if you’ve experienced this before. You feel like maybe in a past life, you heard this band. Bands like that are so special, and I really cannot wait to hear more from them.

Their music is like a glorious whirlwind. Like you’re in an old Western film and you’re trying to escape far far away from your surroundings. Every song is delivered with such urgency and passion that you want injecting into your soul. I love what I’ve heard so far, and I really cannot wait to hear more and more from them. A sound like this is hard to perfect and to just nail. They’ve made it sound so easy and if they sound like this on record, then I’m pretty sure their live shows will be equally as impressive and intense.

So, if you’re looking for something to throw you back and forth in time. Something that makes you feel like you’ve ended up somewhere you shouldn’t have or you just want something so beautifully weird to adore and listen to- then Club Lex are the band for you. I know nothing about this band and there’s nothing about them online, which is absolutely fine! It just means you’ll always be seeking this band out, waiting for them to appear in a town near you. And when they do, you must simply go see them because they are truly something else. I could write thousands of words on this band and why their sound just speaks to me, but the music does all the talkin’ here. I’m hooked; I’m all in.

They have this sound that I cannot quite describe but I know it’s just got that something I always look for in music. They’ll terrify you; they’ll make you buy whatever it is they are selling and you will thank them for it. Honestly, one of the most exciting bands we will hear all year. I’ve fallen in love. I am HOME!

NOSO @ Band On The Wall, Manchester. 19th February 2026.

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Nearly 3 years ago (March 2023) I saw NoSo play their first ever Manchester show at Yes. Last night, they played Band On The Wall and let me tell you, THAT was some experience.

It’s pretty obvious how much I adore NoSo’s music and the way they capture every emotion possible. What leaves me in awe even more so, is how Baek and his band just take the songs to the next level in the live setting. There is only one flaw to a NoSo show- they aren’t long enough. I know we’ve only got 2 records but play them on repeat a few times ha! But in all seriousness, it’s not just the beautiful tone to Baek’s voice, it’s the way they play guitar. I think I spent most of the set just watching them play the guitar and not taking everything fully in. Criminally underrated guitar player and certain songs definitely show you how wonderful they are. I could watch Baek play Sugar and I Feel You ALL day.

The set is a beautiful mix of songs from Stay Proud Of Me and When Are You Leaving? During the set I text my mum to tell her I was out, and I told her what show I was at and she replied with that she had just listened to Nara and loved it. NoSo is for everyone- especially the mums! It was really beautiful to see such a lovely mix of people in the crowd, and in front of me were a (I think a couple) and one of them just danced all the way through and was having the time of their life. That’s what it’s about, and when you can see how much it means to other people and you can see it means the world to them like it means the world to you- you kind of have some hope that maybe it will all be okay.

Baek has a gentle and shy presence on stage and truly lets the music do all the talking. The way Baek and their band play their hearts out and, in a way, mend yours, is just a joy to watch. If I could be at a NoSo show every night I’d be happy and I’d probably be super calm too! There are many highlights of the set but for me it was Suburbia and Let It Die. Let It Die is a sheer euphoric moment from the new record, and I just knew it’d be something really special live. When you see certain songs live, it can change how you feel about them and it just make me love the song a hell of a lot more. I honestly thought I was going to cry at some point during the show just because of what Baek’s music means to me and how their music feels like home, but I was all okay. Or maybe it’s because the one song that would break me wasn’t played! Either way, it was just a beautiful show and to see how loved NoSo is in the UK gives me some hope that we may get more shows and not have to wait 3 more years! But hey, it was absolutely worth the wait, and I strongly advise that if you are ever able to get to their shows- you go. Grab that opportunity and experience something so ethereal and gentle.

For the encore we very nearly got a cover of Hot To Go but settled on Who Made You This Sweet? Lyrically the song will rip your heart out, but when you see it live, you just appreciate the beauty within in. I first found Baek’s music in late 2021 and round about then I was working out stuff and realised I was Non-Binary. It was rough, it was lonely and it was something I mentally had to go through alone. I was using music as a way to navigate my way through, and NoSo’s music felt like someone was holding my hand through it. When you get to see the songs live that were your crutch, it just means a hell of a lot more doesn’t it? You find your home wherever you can, wherever you want and in your own time.

There are certain shows you go to where you feel like you could stay in that moment forever and I absolutely got that last night. I just utterly love NoSo’s music and experiencing it live is something that goes beyond the words I’ve written or could ever write. My words do not do it justice at all but know that once you go to a NoSo show, your heart and soul will never be the same again.