The Schizophonics
-NIGHT PEOPLE, MANCHESTER-
This Thursday, something a little raucous is going down at Manchester’s hottest new venue Night People, with an explosive line up compiled by Psymmetry Collective and Fuzz Thursday.
Opening are Wigan based stoner rock trio Shallow Waters. The band, whose influences include political movements and social realism, let their lyrics reflect this as their music smacks of early Verve in places, channelling everything from hints of the psychedelic, to full on grunge, to desert rock. They are lapped up by the early gathered crowd who edge ever forward in curiosity. Their front man has an enviable voice and it’s easy to see why they are gathering attention and earning slots on bills like tonight’s.
Next up are Liverpool duo Rival Bones who for a two piece sure bring a lot of noise. They bring meaty riffs with strong melodies, powerful driving rhythms and aggressive lyrics. When you listen to them it’s hard to comprehend the sound emitting from the stage with just the two people playing it. They have been attracting increasing attention of late and have recently played slots at In Music Festival in Croatia and Liverpool Sound City. They are well received by the crowd, with people rocking away at the front unashamedly.
The third band on the bill bring the rock, the roll and the fuzz – they are Blackburn’s Sky Valley Mistress. They cut quite a picture, clad all in white and are well known in local circles. Having released a handful of EPs and singles over the last few years, they acquired some notoriety with the cleverly named The Best Thing You’ve Never Heard. The sound offers nods to Black Sabbath’s doom, Led Zeppelin’s blues and yet their sound manages to be individual in its own way. They waste no time in tearing up the stage with hypnotic beats and empowered vocals from Kayley Davies which leave tingles running down the spine. Out of the three supports, their sound is the most accomplished and as main support, they add a level of accomplishment to the already impressive offerings.
Headlining the night are San Diego based garage rock three-piece The Schizophonics, who have toured the West Coast of the US and Europe extensively these last few years and garnered an indisputable reputation for their explosive live performances. The group released their debut EP in 2017, Ooga Booga, which was followed by debut album The Land of the Living drawing comparisons to the MC5 frequently. Frontman Pat Beers is a tour de force and for the uninitiated, he leaves jaws agape. Highlights come in the form of ‘Rat Trap’ with its empowered beat and contagious energy, ‘The Train’ with its rolling riffs and ‘Red Planet’ with its dangerously addictive beat countenance that sees any remaining feet tapping.
Tonight has offered a bit of everything rock and roll could reasonably offer, culminating in garage madness incorporated into three Californians.
The Schizophonics: Official | Facebook | Twitter
Lover of all things psych and shoegaze and the mind behind Astral Elevator; constantly seeking new musical experiences in a world full of noise.
