Live report: Man/Woman/Chainsaw rock out at Whelan's

It's a sold out show. Man/Woman/Chainsaw swagger onstage to 'In Da Club' by 50 Cent. Billy Ward and Billy Doyle are dressed in suits that seem ironic, contrasting with the more casual attire the other four are in.

The London six-piece make the stage seem a tad crowded. With the exception of drummer Lola Cherry in the back, the members perform side by side: Clio Starwood with her electric violin; Vera Leppänen front and centre, flanked by Billy Ward and Billy Doyle, each with a guitar; and Emmie-Mae Avery at the keyboard.

Their debut album Cannonball came out on August 7 this year, three years after the band settled on their current members, and seven years after Leppänen and Ward first played music together.

The album has been described as a move toward pop, compared to the band's initially more experimental art-rock vibe. Their sound was influenced by fellow Brixton Windmill scene bands, particularly Black Midi, who attended the same BRIT School five of Man/Woman/ Chainsaw did.

Billy Ward and Vera Leppänen are the lead vocalists, but some songs include backing vocals by other members. With some tracks sung chiefly by Leppänen, others chiefly by Ward, and a few by Avery solo, it's like several different bands rolled into one.

On 'Canyons', Leppänen and Ward belt out in duet as the violin squeals and drums steadily punch toward the final crescendo. Doyle, Avery and Starwood sing backing vocals on the track. Similarly, on 'Nosedive', Ward and Leppänen sing, with all the other members providing background vocals like distant shouts, the verses separated by melancholy violin solos.

Violinist Starwood seems to spend as much time dancing vigourously as playing her instrument. The crowd, too, are headbanging and bobbing to the crashing drums.

Man/Woman/Chainsaw at Whelan's on September 20. Credit: Davide Nolfo for Hot Press.

"Welcome to our first headline show in Dublin!" Vera Leppänen cheers in her London accent. The crowd cheers back. Then she makes an announcement: it's Billy Ward's birthday, as well as the band's photographer's. A Colin the Caterpillar complete with lit candles is brought out, and this time the audience sings for the performers.

The band's exploration in genre is reflected in the setlist. 'Lighter' and 'Only Girl' are melodic, and wouldn't sound out of place on mainstream radio.

But the angst and distinctive experimentalism they're known for are still there. Man/Woman/Chainsaw also play 'Still Angry' and 'The Thing', with dominating drums and bellowed vocals. On 'Still Angry', Billy Doyle takes a bow to his guitar as Leppänen shouts over the percussion, "So I call out your name / like I'm still fucking angry, / 'cause I'm still fucking angry, / I'm still fucking angry..."

Angry, sweet, dancing - Man/Woman/Chainsaw do it all. Just one thing is missing: there's no chainsaw in sight (the name was taken from the title of a book called Men, Women and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film).

During 'Ode to Clio', Starwood and Ward start a musical duel of sorts. Playing, facing each other and grinning, they alternate approaching each other and hurrying back. It's a tease, a fight, giddiness. It channels both the joy and aggression in their music, intense and carefree at once.