By DJ Astrocreep
Despite the complete lack of trains, full coaches and the onset of a storm, there was no way I was turning down the chance to catch Geordie noise merchants PIGSx7 live in a favourite haunt of mine, the O2 Ritz in Manchester. With support from Trans-Pennine cosmic drone act Bonnacons of Doom – who I’d seen support PIGSX7 a few times before – and with punk rock act Lambrini Girls also supporting, the sold-out crowd was going to be going for it right through!
Bonnacons of Doom have impressed me when I’ve caught them before and tonight is no exception to that. While their numbers seem to have multiplied from what I remember (though that could be bad memory!), the effect the music has is still exactly the same. Feeling almost like being caught up in a mystic ritual of sorts, the six piece all wear mirror masks, with the exception of their shamanistic vocalist, adding further to the illusion of etherealness, especially when the lighting tech is bang on form with their duties, amplifying the imagery and presence of the talented act. It’s actually a pity that the crowd is so slow in starting off, no doubt put off by the rain or travel issues.
Those of us here are highly appreciative though and do our best to make up for the low numbers – it’s the least they deserve for what is an excellent set.
Our second support act gives us the very loud, brash , a very left wing, loud and proud punk act and they are a handful from the very off! The vocalist/guitarist heads off into the crowd first song in, getting everyone to sit with her on the floor before jumping back up to het the first couple of people pitting this evening. Climbing on to a random guy’s shoulders, she has another audience member hold her mic while playing and singing away for the next track, before joining the other two band members back on stage. They’re loud, brash and don’t give a fuck, and it’s absolutely refreshing to see an artist be loud and proud about where they stand on certain things.
The sound tech is working overtime trying to keep up and while their brand of punk rock may be bang on your face, it belies the actual talent they actually have with their instruments, when you see quite how technical some of the bass work gets and the drums are played with such ease, even when they are parts approaching polyrythyms. It’s a pity it’s hidden so well, yet at the same time it enhances the overall sound, as loud and aggressive as it is. The last song gets another sit down section in the now burgeoning crowd before a much bigger pit opens up. A fantastic set in getting everyone ready for the wall of noise to come.
facebook.com/LambriniGirlsband
The first time I caught our headliners live, they headlined another Manchester venue, The Star and Garter, a 200 capacity venue, back in 2018. In the five years in between, you could say they’ve grown a touch, having sold out the O2 Ritz, which has an impressive 1500 capacity. Despite the storm, the train strikes, despite it all, the room is rammed as PIGSx7 take to the stage and it’s not by accident… the porcine named act have been not so quietly smashing it out of the park.
Back to tonight, the sheer warmth towards the band is one I’ve only ever seen really matched by the likes of Devin Townsend – it truly feels like a brother, sister and other hood. As I look around, all I can see is a wall of heads nodding in almost perfect time to the rhythmic music. Wall of noise or not, there is an elegance and passion to their brutality that frontman Mathew Baty echoes in his Freddie Mercury meets Ozzy Osbourne approach, a style that almost belies just how wall of noise they are amongst the heavy psychedelic blues rock they purvey.
It’s worth noting that I have a seat at the barrier, as around halfway through the set, the barrier next to me is literally being pulled by everyone holding on as they headbang away. The energy from the crowd as PIGS work their way through the set is fantastic, the Lambrini Girls having done an excellent job of getting people prepped for the pit fun, with the likes of ‘Mr Medicine’, ‘Ultimate Hammer’ and ‘World Crust’ booming down our earholes, amongst many others.
We get Kate, the vocalist from Bonnacons of Doom on to do co vocals for a song, while Baty proves a very likeable compere on the couple of occasions he takes a minute on the mic. The atmosphere is frenetic but ultimately one full of absolutely good-natured fun, however different audience members do it.
A phenomenal headline set that demonstrates how they’re gaining the traction they are in a relatively short space of time.
- The tour finishes at the Kentish Town Forum tonight (Friday 6 October).
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