We head into Manchester on lovely bank holiday evening to welcome Californian Hardcore unit Scowl back to town, with support coming from Modern Color and Manchester’s own Big Problem.
Big Problem
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Clearly taking advantage of the bank holiday the crowd have already started to pack out the room for local trio Big Problem who occupy the local support slot for tonight. Big in name and with a sound to match, the chunky bass driven tunes do a commendable job of warming up the crowd. By song two ‘Rowing’ the pace has quickened.
Not a group for small talk, the band charge through their allotted half hour, squeezing in as many tracks as possible.
Modern Color
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Next up are California’s Modern Color. Despite some minor technical hiccups up front, Modern Color power through in style bringing a healthy dose of that warm California energy to proceedings. The driving rhythm of ‘Dancing Waters Club’ from latest release ‘There Goes The Dream’ starts things off strong, the band blending some of the gruffer sounds with heavy post-hardcore stylings. Songs like ‘Fortress’ and ‘On & Off’ lean more into the group’s dreamy, shoegaze sound which the crowd is more than happy to vibe along to.
Inclusions such as 2017’s ‘Wool’ keep things invigorated however with its pounding rhythm that crescendos in a crashing, screaming breakdown.
The vibes in the now heaving room are warm as we head into our final act of the night. Marking almost exactly a month to the day from the release of the band’s latest full length ‘We Are All Angels’ Californian hardcore unit Scowl return to grace a Manchester club stage for the first time since their fantastic show at The Pink Room back in 2022. And although achingly brief, the next 40 minutes is a whirlwind of energy more than capable of silencing any frankly misguided online naysayers giving their opinions on the band’s so-called “abandonment” of their hardcore roots.
‘Wired’ from last year’s Psychic Dance Routine EP kicks off the set with a pure shot of that addictive hardcore energy instantly whipping up the crowd followed quickly by our first dose of new material. ‘Fantasy’ brings the grungier, 90s alt-rock leanings of the band’s expanded sound. Both vibes complement each other very well in this live setting, the bouncy, sing-along choruses of the likes of “B.A.B.E” and “Let You Down” are a great counter balance to the biting intensity of older material such as ‘Fuck Around’ and ‘Bloodhound’.
40 minutes goes by in a flash as crowd surfer after crowd surfer races to get one last dive in before the end.
All images by William Mawdsley | Instagram