Touring in support of their debut album \u2018Cannonball\u2019, released via Fiction Records, the six-piece arrived at Brighton\u2019s Concorde 2 <\/a>on Wednesday night with a growing reputation as one of the UK\u2019s most inventive young live acts.<\/p>\n With violin, keys, synths and dual guitars woven into the mix, their music shifts effortlessly between fragile beauty and exhilarating chaos, often within the space of a single song. The band, consisting of Billy Ward (vocals and guitar), Vera Lepp\u00e4nen (vocals and bass guitar), Emmie-Mae Avery (vocals, keys, and synths), Clio Starwood (violin), Lola Cherry (drums) and Billy Doyle (guitar), continue to expand their sound way beyond conventional indie-rock boundaries.<\/p>\n Excitement and energy were evident from the outset, as Clio Starwood danced her way onto the stage during the intro music beneath a backdrop reflecting the album artwork of \u2018Cannonball\u2019. The atmosphere was already charged before the opening notes of \u2018Only Girl\u2019. Huge cheers greeted the band, and they responded with a performance that was sharp, dynamic and immediately engaging.<\/p>\n Vera proved a strong focal point throughout the evening, without over dominating. Bass in hand, she bounced and swayed across the stage, her vocals adapting constantly to the changing moods of the songs. Whether delivering soaring melodic passages during \u2018Canyons\u2019 or the controlled fury of \u2018Still Angry\u2019, she demonstrated an impressive ability to move between softness and intensity with ease.<\/p>\n Billy Ward provided an effective counterbalance. His more direct vocal style on songs such as \u2018The Thing\u2019 and \u2018Adam & Steve\u2019 highlighted the contrast at the heart of Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw\u2019s songwriting. Throughout the set, the band\u2019s dual-vocal approach remained one of their strengths, with Billy and Vera alternately trading lines, harmonising together and supporting one another in ways that continually refreshed the material.<\/p>\n Just as important was the contribution of the wider ensemble. Clio Starwood\u2019s violin remains central to the band\u2019s identity, adding drama, melancholy and moments of outright exhilaration. From the elegant introduction to \u2018Canyons\u2019 to the explosive climaxes that followed, her playing frequently transformed songs, helping them break free from standard indie-rock structures.<\/p>\n Emmie-Mae Avery also enjoyed several standout moments, particularly on \u2018Get Up And Dance\u2019, where her lead vocal helped steer the track from a hushed opening into one of the night\u2019s most infectious crescendos. Billy Doyle\u2019s sharp guitar worked even included using of a violin bow. Behind it all, drummer Lola Cherry anchored the band\u2019s frequent stylistic shifts with precision and power, ensuring that even their most abrupt changes felt purposeful rather than chaotic.<\/p>\n What impressed about Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw is their willingness to embrace contrast. Songs often began quietly, often with different musicians taking the lead before shifting gear into communal releases. \u2018Snakebite\u2019 opened with violin and keys before gradually gathering strength, while \u2018Goddamn, Lizard Man!\u2019 paired Billy\u2019s almost spoken-word storytelling with darker textures and subtle vocal support from Vera.<\/p>\n The crowd responded enthusiastically to every change of direction. By the time unreleased track \u2018Scab\u2019 arrived midway through the set, Vera\u2019s instruction that \u201cyou have to dance to this song\u201d barely seemed necessary. Not only violinist Clio, who appeared unable of standing still throughout the performance, but Concorde 2 steadily transformed into a swaying, bouncing mass of movement.<\/p>\n That energy reached another level during \u2018Flick Of The Wrist\u2019, whose increasingly frantic pace had the venue floor moving beneath the crowd. Meanwhile, older favourite \u2018Ode To Clio\u2019 showcased the band\u2019s roots, allowing Clio\u2019s violin to take centre stage before escalating into a thrilling musical duel between violin and guitars that earned one of the night\u2019s loudest receptions.<\/p>\n A cover of The Breeders\u2019 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 felt both an obvious choice and a clever one. Introduced by Clio\u2019s violin and featuring Emmie-Mae on lead vocals and keyboard at its core, the band made the song unmistakably their own, transforming a beloved alternative rock classic into something that sat naturally alongside their own material.<\/p>\n The evening concluded with lead single \u2018Nosedive\u2019. Even a brief technical issue could not derail the moment. If anything, the enforced restart only amplified the audience\u2019s anticipation. Vera threw herself around the stage with relentless energy, her hair flying as she moved to the music before launching into a series of high kicks. Clio stood triumphantly on the very edge of the stage with violin aloft, while the entire band embraced one final euphoric release. Crowd and performers sang and danced together as the energy spilled from the stage into every corner of the room.<\/p>\n In many ways, the show reflected their journey from 2024\u2019s \u2018Eazy Peazy\u2019 EP to \u2018Cannonball\u2019. The debut album may reveal a band refining and focusing its ideas, but live, Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw more closely retain the volatility, edge and exhilarating unpredictability that first made them such an exciting proposition. They continue to sound like a band determined to follow their own path. Judging by the reaction at Concorde 2, plenty of people are eager to follow them on their evolving journey.<\/p>\n Man\/ Woman\/ Chainsaw: Man\/ Woman\/ Chainsaw setlist: linktr.ee\/manwomanchainsaw<\/a><\/p>\n Opening the evening were Hampshire trio Uncle Junior<\/a>, a band whose blend of post-punk urgency, alt-rock eccentricity and DIY energy made for an impressive introduction to the night.<\/p>\n The three-piece played with the confidence and chemistry of a group far more established than their recent release history might suggest. Despite having only just unveiled debut single \u2018Melt Me\u2019, Uncle Junior already appear to possess a clear musical identity.<\/p>\n They launched into \u2018Baby Shoes\u2019 with crashing drums and jagged guitar lines, Oli Noble\u2019s snarling vocals immediately establishing the band\u2019s rough-edged appeal. \u2018PSHE\u2019 increased the tempo further, with Oli bouncing around the stage as the trio\u2019s energy levels rose alongside the growing crowd response.<\/p>\n Uncle Junior demonstrated an impressive ability to shift mood as well as pace. \u2018AD\u2019 introduced a darker, more brooding atmosphere, driven by powerful basslines and emotionally charged vocals, while \u2018Richard\u2019 moved between intimate guitar-led passages and explosive bursts of noise.<\/p>\n New single \u2018Melt Me\u2019 highlighted the band\u2019s melodic side without sacrificing intensity, balancing heavier indie-rock moments with a more reflective conclusion. Elsewhere, \u2018I Love You, Kenneth Copeland\u2019 moved from loose grooves to feedback-laden post-punk chaos.<\/p>\n Closing with the up-tempo \u2018I Know You\u2019, Uncle Junior finished in a frenzy of energy that left a strong impression and provided an ideal curtain-raiser for Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw.<\/p>\n Uncle Junior: Uncle Junior setlist: unclejunior.os.fan\/unclejunior<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/M9.jpg\")
Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw at Concorde 2, Brighton 30.9.26 (pic Max Tollworthy<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/M8.jpg\")
Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw at Concorde 2, Brighton 30.9.26 (pic Max Tollworthy<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/M7.jpg\")
Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw at Concorde 2, Brighton 30.9.26 (pic Max Tollworthy<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Billy Ward \u2013 vocals and guitar
Vera Lepp\u00e4nen \u2013 vocals and bass guitar
Emmie-Mae Avery \u2013 vocals, keys, and synths
Clio Starwood \u2013 violin
Lola Cherry \u2013 drum
Billy Doyle \u2013 guitar<\/p>\n
\u2018Only Girl\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018The Thing\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Canyons\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Adam & Steve\u2019 (a 2025 single)
\u2018Snakebite\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Get Up And Dance\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Goddamn, Lizard Man!\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Still Angry\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Scab\u2019 (unreleased)
\u2018Flick Of The Wrist\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Lighter\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Ode To Clio\u2019 (from 2024 \u2018EazyPeazy\u2019 EP)
\u2018Something Else To Give\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)
\u2018Connonball\u2019 (a cover of The Breeders)
\u2018Nosedive\u2019 (from 2026 \u2018Cannonball\u2019 album)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/U6.jpg\")
Uncle Junior at Concorde 2, Brighton 30.9.26 (pic Max Tollworthy<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Oli Noble \u2013 vocals and guitar
Eric Rye Lees \u2013 bass\u00a0\u00a0
Isaac West\u00a0\u2013 drums<\/p>\n
\u2018Baby Shoes\u2019
\u2018PSHE\u2019
\u2018AD\u2019
\u2018Melt Me\u2019 (a 2026 single)
\u2018I Love you, Kenneth Copeland\u2019
\u2018Richard\u2019
\u2018The Long Retreat\u2019
\u2018I Know You\u2019<\/p>\n