Man/Woman/Chainsaw arrived in Guildford after a successful summer filled with festival appearances and the much-lauded release of their debut album, ‘Cannonball’, back in August. Sold out – like every other date on this autumn tour – things were set to get very hot in the heart of Surrey.

Fresh off the release of their debut single ‘Melt Me’ the day before, tour support Uncle Junior opened the night with a tight and twisty half hour of songs that veered from Cloud Nothings-style hook-driven indie rock to pure power pop and even a touch of gritty grunge.

While the aforementioned single is more on the delicate side with yacht rock melodies and eye-opening lyrics, they follow this up with something far more avant garde. With math-tinged and ear-piercing sounds that land somewhere between The Fall and Fat White Family, the Hampshire trio’s set became angrier and more experimental as it progressed – ending with a tongue-in-cheek call to ‘go fuck yourself’ if you didn’t want to buy any merch.

Following this incredible set, it was time for the main event. Man/Woman/Chainsaw lined up five band members towards the front of the small, sweat-drenched stage leaving only drummer Lola Cherry towards the back. After dancing on to 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’, the London six-piece launched into the single ‘Only Girl – a violin-driven piece that sounded huge in the live setting. Billy Ward took over vocals on the following ‘The Thing’ before there was a cathartic, celebratory and communal crowd sing-along to album standout ‘Canyon’.

While each member was having fun up on stage bouncing around and delivering crunchy riffs or sublime melodies , violinist Clio Starwood – seemingly living by Liam Gallagher’s mantra of ‘You have to fucking care a lot to not give a fuck’ – was especially captivating with shades going on and off, good-natured crowd baiting and a whole lot of dancing.

As the set progressed, the band and crowd were covered in sweat, with pre-album single ‘Adam & Steve’ given a welcome outing and ‘Still Angry’’s poignant, repeated refrain of ‘I’m still fucking angry’ being tenderly sung in unison. ‘Ode to Clio’ was just as hair-raising as on record and a penultimate cover of the Breeders ‘Cannonball’ (our friend pointed out the link to the album title…) delighted many of a certain age in the crowd.

The hour-long set – how does a band this new have so many fully formed songs? – finished with an inevitability glorious ‘Nosedive’, Billy cupping his hand to his ears to hear the crowd sing just that bit louder. It was a blistering end to a red-hot set.

Upcoming tour dates

October

Thu 1 – Portsmouth, UK – The Wedgewood Rooms (SOLD OUT)
Fri 2 – Bristol, UK – Thekla (SOLD OUT)
Sat 3 – Cardiff, UK – The Globe (SOLD OUT)
Mon 5 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms (SOLD OUT)
Tue 6 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds (SOLD OUT)
Wed 7 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
Thu 29 – New York, US – Night Club 101 (SOLD OUT)
Fri 30 – New York, US – Union Pool (SOLD OUT)

November

Mon 2 – Chicago, US – Schubas
Wed 4 – Los Angeles, US – The Echo

2027

May

Sat 1 – Manchester, UK – New Century
Sun 2 – Glasgow, UK – The Art School
Mon 3 – Newcastle, UK – King Street Social Club
Wed 5 – Leeds, UK – Project House
Thu 6 – Birmingham, UK – Castle & Falcon
Fri 7 – Bristol, UK – Electric
Sat 8 – Southampton, UK – 1865
Mon 10 – Oxford, UK – Academy
Tue 11 – London, UK – The Forum Kentish Town