Live Review : The Cruel Knives + Crashface + Fate's Hollow @ The Deaf Institute Lounge, Manchester on April 25th 2024

Pedigree. That’s the first thing that comes to mind tonight. Back in the day there used to be an occasional item in Sounds magazine, or sometimes Kerrang, that later became both a tv series and a book. It was called Rock Family Trees, and essentially it managed to trace links between rock bands of all sizes and statures in a giant spiderweb of connections and surprising bandmates. These were then presented in an easy-to-understand format that made sense and was often interesting and fascinating at the same time. In a way, that’s kind of why I’m here tonight. Can you imagine a link between tonight’s headliners The Cruel Knives and Led Zeppelin for example? No? Read on, all will be revealed!

Live Review : The Dust Coda + Doomsday Outlaw + Luna Marble @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on October 24th 2023

In my opinion, there is no genre of music that encapsulates pastiche more than that of the 21st century take on Classic Rock. The lack of innovation or desire for change and reliance on nostalgia and cliché leaves it feeling stagnant and ultimately uninspiring. Despite this, there is also an admirable and undoubtable demand for bands of this ilk from fans who want nothing more than to be transported back to a time when the humble guitar was king and simplicity was deemed innovative. Time waits for no one, and whilst the heroes of that bygone age may no longer be able to hold their own in 2023, the next generation of Classic Rock bands are here to pick up the mantle.

Live Review : A.A. Williams + Zetra @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on May 22nd 2023

Things tonight are not what they seem. A.A. Williams is deconstructed metal. All the pieces are there, just not in the configuration we expect. Support Zetra look like Mayhem if they went a little crazy in the B&Q chains and locks aisle, however they sound like the Human League. They seem to have escaped from the faux eighties. That non-existence facade of a decade that only actually exists in the fevered creative mind of showrunners. If Dustin and Suzie had formed a band in Stranger Things, it would have looked and sounded like Zetra. Its all very discombobulating.

Live Review : Static Dress + Jools + The Throwaway Scene @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on April 16th 2022

The thing that endlessly fascinates me about the modern music scene is the infinite amounts of crossover and genre splicing. Back in my day (here I go again), there were definitive walls and uncrossable distinctions between different scenes. You had pure versions of the distinct musical categories and you didn’t cross the beams. There is an emerging generation that seems comfortable with bending and distorting all those conventions that we felt were sacrosanct. What that leads to is a much more vibrant and fluid music scene where it is Ok to pull influence from a whole host of different aspects.

Live Review : Cassyette + Bambie Thug + AlienBlaze @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on February 22nd 2022

Us old guard are pretty protective of our music. We look with a mixture of derision and superstition at those that try to take it in different directions. All of this is highly ironic as the only reason Metal has survived fifty plus years is the fact that it has absorbed and integrated into its super-structure various other genres and styles. Ours is parasitic form of music, wholly reliant on continually assimilating all around it. Tonight, is a prime example of Metal’s ongoing evolution. At pushing fifty I may look like someone’s dad (or to be honest grandad) come to chaperone them, but ladies and gentlemen this is the future.

Live Review : Skynd @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on February 19th 2022

Also featuring a brief history on murder, death, and serial killers– those with a nervous disposition are advised not to read on…

“Come to a gig with freshly pierced nipples” they said. “You'll be fine” they said. I think they were telling porkies. I go to the gig anyway. I am a well-known local idiot after all, and I've battled through train cancellations and stormy weather to join the crowd for a performance by the ever eerie and utterly captivating Skynd.

Live Review : Daniel Tompkins + Novena @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on January 27th 2022

Modern Metal is full of distinctive voices and this cracker of a tour celebrates two of them. Whilst TesseracT frontman Daniel Tompkins might be the main draw here, he has actually achieved quite a scoop in bringing along Ross Jennings of Haken’s side project Novena along for the ride. Jennings always seems a lot more relaxed with Novena than he ever does with Haken. This feels like his playground, where he can experiment and push his vocal cords in directions that the confides of his day job don’t allow.

Live Review : Bossk + Dvne @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on December 17th 2021

When this tour was announced earlier on in the year, this was a atypical main band / support act affair. Bossk were the main attraction and Dvne were along for the ride to make up the numbers. However, this all changed as the word of mouth about the incredible “Etemen Ænka” spread like wildfire. Critics and punters alike fell over themselves to heap praise on this album and the queue to get to witness them live at last month’s Damnation Festival (review here) was extraordinary.

Live Review : Wheel + The New Death Cult @ Deaf Institute, Manchester on February 10th 2020

There’s something satisfying about a two bands bill, as long as both bands step-up to the task. If you only take one thing from this review, then it’s that both these bands are a fantastic treat live and you’d be a fool not to catch them next chance you get. Got that? Still here though? Then let me continue…

Live Review : Twin Temple + The Violent Hearts @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on January 27th 2020

You can’t help but feel sorry for Brummie support act the Violent Hearts. Their brand of goth inspired post-punk is really rather dandy and brings to mind a halfway house between Orange Juice and the Chameleons but this is so not their audience. In fact, I am rather nonplussed what or who this audience actually is. It is a about 25% curious metalheads, 25% Wicca and 50% hipster (the immaculately manicured beards and the pints of Porter (the new IPA) are a plenty).

Live Review : SUMAC + Baptists + ENDON @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on March 18th 2019

The good old Manchester rain means that by the time we get to The Deaf Institute everyone queuing is soaking wet and reminiscent of the veritable drowned rat. The Music Hall upstairs at The Deaf Institute is a cracking little venue, almost like a tiny theatre, and the steam rising from the amassed crowd up the stairs makes it feel like we’re waiting to enter an underworld gladiatorial arena.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Matt Fraser20 March 2019The Deaf InstituteSUMAC, Baptists, ENDON, The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 2019, Live ReviewComment

Live Review : Sólstafir + Talons + Telepathy @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester on December 19th 2018

Sólstafir for me, are one of the most inventive and vibrant bands currently earning their crust playing Heavy Metal, so why are they yet again in one of Manchester’s most select venues (ie its smaller than my living room) is beyond me. But more ranting about the fact that a band of Sólstafir’s stature are playing in place that would give even the smallest cat a headache later. We have two support acts to look at first.