SQUID

By Ruby Wetherill

Post punk collective Squid are making waves with their UK tour at the moment. Hailing from Brighton this group has taken all the best bits of the so called windmill scene and created an eclectic lineup. With two supports, supergroup Ichigo Evil and Blue Bendy and a jam-packed set the O Monolith tour is certainly turning heads.

With two incredible albums under their belt, Squid – fronted by Ollie Judge – are proving they are here to stay and doing it well.

ICHIGO EVIL

Ichigo Evil supporting Squid | Manchester New Century 18/10/23

Ichigo Evil combines Bristol rock group The Evil Usses and Ichi; a performance based artist using alt pop and movement to channel an intense punk accumulation.

Completely unassuming I entered the venue knowing nothing about the energy I was about to witness erupt on the stage. Looking to the stage I see a man conducting what seemed to be a yoga class wearing an outfit my younger brother would have worn on our summer holidays when we were kids. I was expecting to settle in for a calming 20 minute set before the messy night ahead until, drums kicked in and Ichigo Evil took everyone by storm. I truly love when I watch a support and immediately follow them on socials when they’ve finished and that happened here. Ichigo Evil take surreal to the next level. I’m not sure where I’ll hear them next but I hope it will be as they headline a gig in the North with a crowd that’s ready to go as crazy as they sound.

Now if I thought I hadn’t prepared myself enough for Ichigo Evil, Blue Bendy was a whole other story.

BLUE BENDY

Blue Bendy supporting Squid | Manchester New Century 18/10/22

It’s quite easy in a genre or music scene to somewhat blend in but that is not what Blue Bendy did. Arthur Nolan (vocals) took my breath away. His wordy, spoken approach to singing felt like a combination of Isaac Wood of Black Country New Road and Jarvis Cocker, it was a combination that truly delighted me. With a shoegaze influence that resonates throughout their music this 6 piece stole the audience. I would’ve been happy to go home after their set was finished and still feel like I had my money’s worth. A band I’ve played on repeat since seeing them support Squid and hope to see again soon. Each track they played was a symphony, well blended and easy to listen to without being too similar to the last. If we don’t hear more from Blue Bendy in the coming months there is something truly wrong with the music industry.

One thing I love about seeing live music is the incredible feeling of falling in love with opening bands. Standing in the crowd dancing to music very few people have heard before makes me feel like I will be that one aunty in 20 years telling all the teens at family gatherings that I saw {insert band name here} before they were famous.

On to the main event though.

Squid | Manchester Century 18/10/23

Squid are cool, there’s no better way to put it honestly. I stood amid a crowd of Doc Martens, badly washed band t-shirts and silly hats (don’t worry silly hat people, I am one of you) and enjoyed every moment. You know you’re in for a treat when every band shirt in the crowd is a band you’ve either seen, streamed or wish you could see.The energy was electric.

Squid opened their set with Swing in a Dream (my favourite of their songs) which is the perfect opener for them. The song holds a level of calm and anticipation which had every member of the crowd hanging on a thread waiting for the chance to let loose. And that chance came maybe two songs later. As the pits opened up the band matched that energy, playing like their life depended on it, and then bringing back some calm energy to let everyone breathe.

I saw Squid perform at Boardmasters this year knowing I had tickets to what became a sold out performance at the New Century Hall and I had been buzzing with excitement since. It was brilliant to hear a healthy mix of older tracks and from their new album. For Squid, it’s such a great way to balance a reckless moshpit ready crowd and show their development as musicians. The attention is on vocalist and drummer Ollie Judge. Not at one point during a Squid set do you question which instrument he puts more energy into, yet you walk out baffled as to how he didn’t pass out from shear exhaustion mid show after pulling off the work of two people.

The five piece consisting of Ollie Judge, guitarists Louis Borlase and Anton Pearson, bassist Laurie Nankivell and keyboardist Arthur Leadbetter put their all into their performance and will be up their with the likes of Black Midi and LCD Soundsystem as some of the most iconic dance punk bands of our time.

After seeing Black Country New Road at the New Century last year I was not convinced about the venue. As someone who considers themself a connoisseur of Manchester’s music venues, it was possibly one of my least favourite ones in the city. But there is no denying it is an interesting space that showcases some truly brilliant artists. My opinion of the venue has drastically changed seeing it packed out with people who were really feeling the music, even to the back of the room.

The UK leg of the O Monolith tour is nearly over but this is definitely not the last you’ll hear from these eclectic musicians. Definitely keep your ears and eyes peeled for more from Squid, Ichigo Evil and Blue Bendy alike.

Words & Photo’s by Ruby Wetherill