Well, this is a bit strange… I step inside Gorilla for the first time since December 2019 and reflect on the absolutely monumental changes that have taken place not only in my life, but in everyone else’s since then! It is a bit disconcerting but quite cathartic as it’s been a hell of a journey from there to here.

As I arrive Between Thorns, a five-piece punk band from just down the road in Macclesfield are starting their set. The venue is pretty packed, and I gather quite a few of the audience have turned out to see them. The first thing to notice is that they are all exceptionally young. Their website says between 16 – 18 (and mentions during the set of TikTok confirm this!) At first it feels a bit like a local Battle of the Bands contest, but they blast through their eleven-song playlist and despite the obvious nerves on stage they win me over. They have good on-stage rapport and being young that is coupled with boundless energy. 

They cite their influences as Green Day and Paramore, with their songs definitely angst-ridden with titles like ‘Bitter’ and ‘Misery’ and singer Lilly does comment on this throughout the performance. I also sense the grunge and nu metal vibes, which culminates in their final song, a rendition of ‘Killing in the name’ by Rage Against the Machine. It’s a bit rough to start but the enthusiasm on stage coupled with the novelty of hearing female vocals on this track makes this a delight to watch. 

While waiting for the main act I do some people watching and try to familiarise myself with the venue a little more. Aside from seeing Massive Wagons here in 2019, I’ve only been here on two other occasions (Everlast and Therapy?). It is busy but the audience is a rather strange mix tonight, and maybe that is something to do with the venue?! I don’t know where to stand, and physically and mentally feel a bit out of place. Admittedly I am on my own, but there is something else I cannot quite put my finger on. I’m discombobulated. Perhaps it is because it’s more bodywarmers, flat caps and plaid shirts… than beanies, band shirts and battle jackets… 

The Virginmarys soon take to the stage and my discomfort dissipates slightly. Also hailing from nearby Macclesfield, this duo were originally a trio and have played with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Frank Turner. I only came across them in recent years, but they have been around since 2009, so tonight they have a lot of material to get through. The first song they rip into is ‘The Meds’ their most recent single and a perfect set opener. 

They race through a few songs without much dialogue with the crowd, but do say how grateful they are for the impressive turn-out based on the current circumstances we all find ourselves in. Despite the seemingly alien nature of the crowd to me, they clearly have a very dedicated following and there is lots of singing along and excitement among the audience. Somewhat not surprising though given this is their local show, but they do say on their Instagram the following day how impressed they are with people travelling far and wide to see them. I have to give a special shout out to the guy with the selfie stick though, who recorded the whole show… Groan. If this is something you do just don’t. Enjoy the bloody gig watching with your eyes on the band instead of staring at a small phone screen and annoying everyone around you. 

The first six songs all follow the formula I expect from The Virginmarys, and if I’m honest I start to feel quite uneasy again and wonder if I like the band enough to stay to the end… I catch myself counting the number of plaid shirts that keep pushing passed as my concentration drifts (1:2 in case you are wondering – what the fuck happened to originality?) Thankfully at this point singer and guitarist Ally switches to an acoustic guitar and we witness a beautiful performance of ‘Through the Sky’, followed by a song that was requested by one of their fans and he admits it a very different vibe. ‘Lies Lies Lies’ has a lot more of an Indie feel to it than the rest of the set, but it’s another good change in tempo and demonstrates they are not a one-trick pony.

After a few more songs I get sick of people constantly pushing passed me, in their plaid shirts, and re-position myself behind the speaker stand. Annoyingly I can no longer really see Ally but have a good view of the drummer, Danny, who is destroying his kit, with ample drumstick swirling and cymbal hammering. I feel exhausted just watching him, but the amount of energy and passion behind his performance is awe-inspiring and I love ‘Running For My Life’. It really demonstrates who they are, their unique sound of raucous guitar, melodic and almost deafening drumbeats, mixed with loud and angry vocals. 

They skip through another seven songs from their back catalogue. Interestingly they don’t mention an album and I wonder if this is a sign of the times when so few bands can even afford to tour, let alone work on new albums. They do what many other bands are doing now and say they aren’t bothering with the egotistical nonsense of an encore, stating that they have overrun and also as another tragic sign of the times mention that there is an early curfew. So it’s one last song, ‘Bang Bang Bang’ and no time for more. Ally says after this song he is coming into the crowd to thank as many people as he can, which is a heart-warming end to the night. I stick around for a few minutes just to introduce myself and mention this review. Next time I see them I would love to see them at a festival as they certainly have the energy to impress a much, much larger crowd. The Devil Keeps Coming tour continues until the end of the month. 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!