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New Kids on the Block: Most exciting act in the capital storm the Midlands.

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Let’s face it – Man/Woman/Chainsaw should be on your ones to watch. Hailing from London, the insanely talented five-piece ensemble have been a true come-of-age story. Upheld within a vibrant and supportive DIY community. their debut EP “Eazy Peazy” has been snatching all the headlines with its theatrical beauty and joyous experimental frolics, it’s a band as exciting as they are unpredictable. This month, they went on tour to celebrate and we manage to wangle our way in.

Before heading up a hometown headline at Scala in April, they hit up our beloved Bodega with a point to prove.

Before we welcomed the touring Londoners on stage however, we had a full supporting entourage of homegrown talent from our very own, Dura Mater and Bloodworm.

An eclectically musical collective in their own right, Dura Mater doffed off a successful year so far with their first Nottingham date, since returning from London themselves. A sprawling cacophony from the art rock hallmarking to a full chamber folk tapestry, they’ve affirmed themselves as an equally mesmerising act no matter where they find themselves on the line-up. We were swiftly followed by another band who are boundless to their craft – Bloodworm. The bands’ showing here marked an all-round busy week for the 3-piece, as we also saw them support High Vis a mere mile away at Rescue Rooms.

A bold and moody temperament were put on display from both acts in equal measures before the inauguration was complete – it was time for MAN/WOMAN/CHAINSAW.

The driving tour-de-force of The Boss opened up proceedings, the sound stellar for the six squeezing on the stage. The robust bass backbone of Sports Day was also a firm favourite, the new EP trail-mix evidently going doing well with the crowd, Ward’s vocals bringing a new turn for dynamics. Unheard works were also thrown to tempt us in with Adam & Steve / Omppu (Broken Finger Song) and God Damn Lizard Man throwing us into the deep end with that fine line between pretty and noisy that the six-piece collective work out so well. Maegan is perhaps a better testament to that – a 50-second wall of sound and chaos – of a group just having fun with it all.

The spiralling violins of Clio Harwood worked their magic on other-worldly What Lucy Found There, empowering in its own right, aswell as the keys of Emmie-Mae Avery gleaming in EZPZ, a hauntingly beautiful theme which no doubt enchants sounds from fellow counterparts Black Country, New Road and The Last Dinner Party. The mystical mystics of Grow A Tongue in Time is incredibly enchanting strewn out live too, as it plays out a soundtrack to a film you haven’t seen – but love all the more. It’s effortless, purely natural and incredibly fun to witness live with all the bands’ moving components having their moments in the sun.

Before we knew it though, we were wrapping up proceedings as we entered the final song. An orchestral highlight on the 6-track EP, Ode To Clio played a perfect homage to the magic these six have stumbled on amongst one another as Vera’s soft vocals swell and loom into a shouting match; swamped by Lola Cherry’s enigmatic drumming style, hypnotic through every trial and tribulations the band take themselves through.

While not necessarily being “new kids on the block” (having just celebrated playing their 100th gig), they’re new to the scene that doesn’t know them all that well yet – despite the collective deserving all the flowers that will no doubt come their way in the coming months. After all, this looks to be their year. 

Man/Woman/Chainsaw are Billy Ward (vocals, guitars), Emmie-Mae Avery (vocals,keys/synths), Vera Leppänen (vocals, bass), Clio Starwood (violin) and Lola Cherry (drums). The tour continues in Glasgow tonight at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut before finishing up in Scala, London on April the 10th.