Alec Ouzman
Freelance Journalist, Student and Screenwriter based in London. Find me at any live music venue, cinema or with a pint in hand.
Man/Woman/Chainsaw take to London’s Electric Ballroom to perform their debut album, with support from Uncle Junior and Bathing Suits
Releasing their first single in 2022, Man/Woman/Chainsaw feel like they have been on the precipice of reaching the mainstream for years. The band, two parts Man, four parts Woman and an abundance of chainsaw in spirit, have been in the headphones of keen listeners who have anticipated their breakthrough for quite sometime now. Enter: ‘Cannonball’.
Debut album ‘Cannonball’ was an attempt to blend old prog-rock and contemporary acts, whilst keeping the remnants of what remains from the Windmill Era. On a bitter night in October, I rolled out to Camden’s Electric Ballroom to finally grasp what the six piece has to offer and witness the album brought to life.
Opening up the night was Uncle Junior, a noise rock band touted for their high octane and explosive presence. In some ways, the comparison to previous Windmill bands is suitable, with sudden inclinations in tempo, which some may see as rather ‘sharp’, but is a true signature of such bands as Black Midi. However, where I see Uncle Junior truly thriving is the buildup to such an organised chaos. Lead singer Oli Noble, really shines when the instruments are at their quietest. In some songs Oli’s vocal range really reminded me of that of LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, in which his voice can really escalate with the rising velocity of the music around him. A trio truly to watch for the future!
Second up was Bathing Suits, to which I had heard high praise around the vine, whilst still not knowing much about the group. Little did I expect to be greeted with a man instantly strip down to his boxers, before thrusting around the stage as if he was Michalangelo’s David. Bathing Suits introduced me to this new corner of electronic music, neo-erotic and insatiably high energy trip hop mixed ingeniously with guitars using whiskey bottles as slides, groovy basslines and the magnetic Freyja Blevins, who delivered such a memorable performance. Through the set, Freyja would shriek, jump or even stab a flower from the bouquet on her board into the inner leg of her jeans, truly committing to the wonderful insanity of this group.
Emerging amidst 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’, Man/Woman/Chainsaw enter the stage. The band were the most front-facing I have seen in quite some time, only leaving drummer Lola Cherry behind, with the other five members pushing as far as they could onto the verge of the stage. Opening with a fast tempo version of ‘Only Girl’, I can’t help but admit I was floored by the extremely talented Clio Starwood, who added such depth with her violin, truly giving the band an extra dimension.
Billy Wards’ constant bassy voice worked perfectly for a song like ‘The Thing’, in which the group shines in a more spiteful, post-punk sound. The group kept showcasing how catchy their choruses truly are, projecting the jovial and fan-favourite ‘Adam & Steve’, with the partnership of Billy and Vera Leppanen establishing how familiar and tight knit this group truly seem.
It’s a tall order for a band to hold three singers at once, yet not something completely foreign when it comes to the indie-rock genre. Looking at the likes of Black Country, New Road, with the amazing Georgia Ellery, Tyler Hyde and May Kershaw, such a balance can occur and in a similar fashion, it truly astonished me to see the sheer chemistry that Man/Woman/Chainsaw possessed.
Vocal duties are shared between Billy Ward, Vera Leppanen and even the occasional song taken by the ever so talented key player Emmie-Mae Avery on songs such as ‘Get up and Dance’, with the band seamlessly transitioning between vocalists. To close a set is how a show will be truly remembered, which the group took as their own personal mantra with their track ‘Nosedive’ becoming a party for all around.
It was a joy to see confetti be thrashed out, the opening acts jumping onto stage in jubilation, and even bubbles from a plastic chainsaw bubble machine be dispersed. ‘Nosedive’ truly tied a knot on a night that came to feel like a celebration of what is to come for such an exciting group.
If you didn’t get the chance to catch this meticulous sextuple, amend your wrongs! Man/Woman/Chainsaw will be back touring the UK in May 2027, including a landmark night at the O2 Kentish Town Forum.
Listen to ‘Cannonball’ here: