Sunday 24 August 2014

The Minx - Manchester Ruby Lounge - 23rd August 2014

We've championed The Minx for over 18 months now and watched them grow to the point where they can headline The Ruby Lounge ahead of the release of their next single No Friends on 1st September.

There's something about The Minx that makes them stand out from the crowd in Manchester. They're one of the few bands keeping the punk spirit alive - their songs are raucous full-pelt assaults, each and every one with them, with only pauses for breath in between, but they do this whilst managing to retain enough diversity and energy to avoid any accusations of being a one-trick pony.
Watching them live is like viewing a live jack-in-a-box convention.  From keyboard player Kieran to singer Chris and to six foot a lot bassist Steven, there's very little standing still as they thrash their way through twelve songs, including new single No Friends, out September 1, previous single (Can You Find) My Head and Forest Bank, their set closer and proof that they're more than just two minute hit and run merchants.  It's amazing they don't take out the cameraman who's prowling the stage filming for a DVD - the crowd are having bets which one gets him first and ready for the biggest cheer in the evening when they do, but he survives, much to chagrin of most of us who think it's an intrusion.

They have time for a cover in their main set, Camper Van Beethoven's Take The Skinheads Bowling, fits with their style and their politics. Chris is vocal anti-BNP and I Want A War is directed at them whilst Corporation Pop is a dig at the man and working for the system.  Like all the great punk music, there's an intelligent edge to it that often gets ignored amidst the maelstrom of guitars and drums.

Their encore is a fabulous fun stomp through REM's It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), they miss some of the words half way through and look at each other and almost burst out laughing and keep going.  There's a gang mentality to the band that's great to watch - they clearly love playing together and believe in what they're doing.

Where they go next will be intriguing.  They're a force to be reckoned with on stage and they've got enough material for an album, so 2015 promises to be an interesting year for them.  But with gigs like this, and their London show the night before by all accounts being equally well-received, they're on the right lines for bigger and better things.

The Minx played Out The Other Ear, Walking On My Grave, Beat The Bully, Your Ego, Jesus And The Mary Chain, Corporation Pop, No Friends, Take The Skinheads Bowling, See You At The Funeral, I Want A War, (Can You Find) My Head and Forest Bank with an encore of an impromptu cover of REM's It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).

The Minx's official site can be found here and they are on FacebookTwitter and Soundcloud.

No Friends is out on September 1 on 7" and download.

Photos by Andy Carson - all his gig photos, including more pictures from this gig, can be found on his Flickr site
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