Man/Woman/Chainsaw: Young, Loud and Already Dangerous
- L J Hubbard
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
Rough Trade Liverpool, 12th August 2026
WORDS GEORGE CONNELL / IMAGES L J HUBBARD
Six-piece alt-rock outfit Man/Woman/Chainsaw are one of the newest faces on the UK scene, stunning fans young and old with their unique, moody style. Often compared to bands like Squid, Black Country New Road, and Mary in the Junkyard, the young rockers have shot to stardom with their latest release: Cannonball.
On Wednesday night, Liverpool’s Rough Trade welcomed over 200 eager fans, excited to hear Man/Woman/Chainsaw’s latest release live, followed by an intimate signing session afterwards. Despite the group being so young, it was fantastic to see such a broad range of ages in the dimly lit venue- some being middle-aged couples, others teenagers with friends.
As the cue for doors to open approached, the band unfortunately announced that their tour bus had broken down en route, and that there would be a delay in set timings. Amazingly, the crowd remained patient and calm, giving the band the time they needed to soundcheck, prepare, and warm up for the show. Despite the eventful start to the evening, the young rockers did not break a sweat, re-entering the stage to rapturous applause and cheering, showing a fantastic level of devotion from their fanbase at such an early stage.
After a cheerful, quintessentially English walk-on to Chumbawamba’s 1997 hit, ‘Tubthumping’, the group leapt straight into their first track: ‘Only Girl.’
Driven by a pulsating riff, ‘Only Girl’ demonstrated immediately how powerful each member of this band are, whether it comes to vocals, strings, or percussion. A pleasant surprise during this track was the inclusion of violins, an instrument which is too often discarded when writing rock music. Bluesy in nature, the track was an absolute stunner, grabbing the attention of every fan in the venue and throwing the band right in the zone.
‘Canyons’ followed, changing the emotional direction of the set entirely. Soft, personal, and light, the track captures all the feelings of heartbreak, love, and raw-emotion that come with growing up. Alternating between daintier verses and alternative, crashing guitars, track two certainly displayed a different side to the band without losing their original, unique sound. For fans of bands like English Teacher, or Squid, Man/Woman/Chainsaw are certain to be a hit.
Tracks three and four (‘Goddamn, Lizard Man!’ and ‘Lighter’) went on to build on the harsher, grunge-infused sound from earlier on, switching up the vocal direction by giving guitarist Billy Ward the spotlight. Offering up a deeper sound, almost reminiscent of The Pixies, ‘Goddamn, Lizard Man!’ rang through the room with a chugging, nineties intensity. ‘Lighter’ was equally as brilliant, starting off acoustic and raw, before diving straight into a heavy, pleading chorus.
As ‘Lighter’ trailed off, ‘Get Up and Dance’ changed the mood completely, offering up gothic synths as the room fell into a trance, listening to the band present the story of a nightclub encounter turned sour. The storytelling ability Man/Woman/Chainsaw harness is absolutely incredible, acting almost as a secret ingredient in their songwriting. Each track was real, emotional, and beautiful, while appearing effortless for the talented new group.
‘Flick of the Wrist’ was a personal favourite, brandishing jazzy keys alongside shoegaze-inspired guitars and vocals. The essence this track gave off was similar to that of Ist/Ist and Maruja, demonstrating a maturity and versatility in their songwriting as they tell the tale of betrayal, and lies unraveling right in front of their eyes. ‘The Thing’ was equally brilliant, leaning into post-punk structures broken up by sharper violins. What made ‘The Thing’ so special though, was the contrast between the male vocals of Ward, and the female vocals of Emmie-Mae Avery (guitars) and Vera Leppänen (synths), acting as if to offer both perspectives of the story at once.
‘Still Angry’ stole the show, brandishing thudding drums and angry lyrics that told the story of a toxic relationship- acknowledging just how easy it seemed to accept it all rather than fight back against the abuse. Rather than lingering in self-pity, Leppänen displays all her anger and resentment as if it were a gaping wound, losing not an ounce of emotion throughout her performance.
Ending the set with their hit rock anthem ‘Nosedive’, it was clear from the back of the room that the sextet had absolutely smashed it. Exiting the stage to deafening applause as they geared up for their signing session, Man/Woman/Chainsaw certainly showed that they are not a force to be reckoned with. With the instant success of their debut album, as well as their undeniable stage presence, it is beyond clear to see that this London rock outfit are destined for greatness.
SET LIST
1. Only Girl
2. Canyons
3. Goddamn, Lizard Man!
4. Lighter
5. Get Up and Dance
6. Snakebite
7. Flick of the Wrist
8. The Thing
9. Still Angry
10. Something Else to Give
11. Nosedive
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