Man/Woman/Chainsaw - The Globe Cardiff

An unseasonably hot start to October had The Globe feeling more like the middle of June than autumn, and by the time the evening's support Uncle Junior took to the stage, the sweat had already built. Making their first appearance in Wales, the band delivered a short but snappy set built around the contrast between intense, all-out thrashing guitars and softer, more palatable vocals. With only a recently released debut single under their belt, the experimental, grunge-leaning outfit already showed plenty of promise, weaving heavy riffs and unpredictable melodies into a sound that felt ready to grow. Hopefully, this wouldn’t be their last trip across the border.

As the crowd eagerly awaited the main arrival, it was clear that Man/Woman/Chainsaw's capacity show at last year’s Sŵn Festival had been more than just an indication of things to come. With a critically acclaimed debut album in tow, they returned to the Welsh capital for an even bigger and more ambitious headline performance as they prepared to lock in for another sold out night.

As 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ pumped through the speakers, the band weaved their way through the crowd and onto the stage before launching straight into Only Girl. From there, there was little let-up. Conversation between songs was kept to a minimum and there was barely time to catch a breath as they rattled through material from their recently released album ‘Cannonball’ with a fierce energy.

The Thing and Canyons came next in quick succession, keeping the momentum high with thrashing arrangements that kept the crowd in the palm of their hand. Yet, for all the band’s heavier moments, there was an impressive delicacy to their songwriting too, as they shifted from subdued to full-throttle in a flick of the wrist (pun maybe intended).

That balance came through again on Still Angry, where its raw, cutting lyrics added a more exposed edge to the band’s otherwise frenetic sound. Something Else to Give followed moments later with another shift in tone, further highlighting the breadth of Cannonball without ever disrupting the set’s rhythm. By this point, I was making full use of the occasional puff of air from the handheld fan waved by the person in front, with the heat inside The Globe doing little to dampen the intensity on stage. 

As the night neared its end, there were still some big hitters up their sleeve. Ode To Clio came first, its jagged guitars and jittery melodies giving way to violin strings that elevated the track to a whole new level. Nosedive then brought everything crashing together for a suitably chaotic finale, as the band urged the crowd forward to jump in unison. There was even a chainsaw bubble gun and added cowbell for extra effect. 

Playing their debut album in its entirety alongside a handful of extras, Man/Woman/Chainsaw brought a welcome unpredictability to their live show. Their unconventional approach and restless energy made for a set that felt refreshingly different, with every shift in pace and texture delivering new twists and turns to an already expansive sound. 

By the time they left the stage, it was clear that 'Cannonball' is just the gateway to their unequivocally unique world.

i: https://www.instagram.com/manwomanchainsaw