akoustik Anarkhy (aA) are one of Manchester’s longest running independent underground music projects that champion and showcase grassroots bands. Last year, they marked their 26th anniversary having started their club nights back in 1999. Today, they have developed into a promoter and a record label and continue to provide support and showcase interesting emerging music talent whenever they can.
Speaking with one of the co-founders Noel, these regular band nights are fuelled by a passion and strong DIY ethos. Very often hosted in little known ‘found spaces’ in Manchester, they consequently support both band and venue. Selecting from demo tapes or from having an ear to the ground, they give emerging talent a crucial chance to shine. Whether it’s a band’s first live set or a more established act that has already recorded, they are dependably supporting grassroots music and assisting bands to have the confidence to hone their craft.
Tonight they are promoting in an absolute treasure of a pub, The Abbey in Greenheys. A characterful old pub which appears to have had a business park built around it! This traditional ‘pint and a pie’ pub has had its cool back room transformed. The room has everything the bands require along with posters and lighting. Beneath the thin clerestory windows, a 70s edgy film is being projected onto the wall. The merch stall is ready and akoustik Anarkhy have again achieved a spectacular gig with the ambience of a house party.
The bands on stage tonight were GETNER, Brickhouse, Dennis Beach and Merlo. Along with resident DJ Astrolayb who played ace tracks in-between each set.
In their role as record label and promoter, akoustik Anarkhy have supported two of the bands playing tonight. Brickhouse and GETNER have both recently released their standout singles. Long may the beating heart continue!
Merlo kicked off the night with a great little set. With Eve on guitar and vocals, Edie on the bass and vocals, Luke on drums and Monty delivering some fine guitar work, they’re establishing themselves on the local indie scene. Their songwriting is good. I loved the lyric on the second track “I want to rely on you” which had a dark mood of Joy Division.
Monty enjoyed engaging the crowd, and when both Eve and Edie sang together their sound had a lot of depth. Their closing track, Turning, with Eve taking the lead vocal was the standout of the set for me. It was a captivating performance and lyrics such as “at least these callouses are mine” had a sense of honesty and conviction. It was delivered with the confidence and determination to make sure every word was heard.
Next up was Dennis Beach - These guys are good…they’ve only been around for a couple of years and whoa they’ve made a serious statement! This five-piece band are tight. They all play extremely well and complement each other perfectly. Their sound pulses with rhythm driven by Cathal’s fast relentless drumming. Along with the energy of Joe’s bass and Chris and Jim’s sharp guitars, it’s a feast for the ears. For a band that came together online from an idea sparked by bassist Joe, they’ve chosen well and it’s an impressive line up. The strength of each member is evident. Together they deliver that post-punk sharp sound that everyone seems to crave right now. Their new track Platino is out now and it has rhythmic drums running through it with a great melody and clever lyrics.
Lead singer Dan delivers clever, observational lyrics in a talk-sung style. At times he sounds like a young Mark E Smith. He’s fun and full of charisma, often jumping down into the crowd and singing, hugging, shaking hands, basically thoroughly enjoying the gush of love in the room. Wearing a t-shirt and jacket combo he states the obvious in this hot little room that he was perspiring. Borrowing a fan to cool himself and joking about having a drink of a “tasty beverage” he raises the famous green tin to the audience, “It ain’t Danish, I’ll tell you that for nowt”. Of course it was and of course he was playing us all. His performance would make Jarvis Cocker proud! Full of energy and hijinks, but with the backing of a strong team. Dennis Beach need to be seen live. Full stop.
Brickhouse were next on the bill and are proving to be another great young band with a bright future. They released their standout debut track Angel Eyes earlier this month on the akoustik Anarkhy label. The track has already been getting some regular airplay, so the future is looking pretty rosy for these guys. Their fresh sound blends grungy shoegaze with a bit of thrash and pop thrown in for good measure.
Brickhouse are Freddie Haigh on drums, Max Duffy on lead guitar, Owain Sharp on vocals and rhythm guitar, and bassist Alex Price. It was Owain’s birthday and an impromptu singalong of Happy Birthday from the crowd was a lovely moment.
Their set was loud, thrashy and carried a sound remarkably like Lou Reed and a look of Jim Morrison. They are fresh, current and have something we haven’t heard for a while. I’m looking forward to hearing more from these guys.
Finally, GETNER took to the stage. Again, another strong performance by this Manchester-based band. Although two members of the band hail from Derry, Northern Ireland - singer Quentin Wylie on vocals, and Ruairi Coyle on drums and vocals, along with Charles Barber on guitar and Will Milton on bass. I hear that getner is also Derry slang for being massively hungover!
Their set was loud, energetic and gloriously thrashy, with the post punk intensity we love racing through the tracks. They had the rawness of Rage Against the Machine and the political spirit of The Clash. I wish I’d caught a photo of when Quentin and Charles were singing into the same mic! They’re clearly a favourite with the crowd; people were wearing lucha libre masks and there was plenty of jumping around in this sweat-soaked, high-energy gig.
Their recent single Motorman has been hailed by the label as "the most sensational record of the moment," and you can understand why. With this track they are cementing their place as a band to watch. The lyrics are outstanding - both political, intelligent and connected to the history of the Troubles and that era. Quentin is an imposing and striking frontman, jumping off the stage and pulling the crowd into his energy. Ruairi’s drums are prominent throughout the tracks and his vocals are equally strong. The band have an edgy vibe and I loved their eclectic style, which sets them apart.
I was sorry to miss the end of their set, but I hear there was lots of chanting and people moshing around the floor wanting more! They're a band who promise to deliver, and I'm looking forward to hearing how far and how fast they rise.
GhostBirdUK
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