Live Review: Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man – The Final Gig

Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man announced that they were calling it a day earlier this year, they formed back in 2004 and have been playing stupidly fast hardcore punk ever since. In that time they have released four albums, numerous EP’s, members of the band are also involved with DIY punk projects such as TNS Records, Manchester Punk Festival and MBBP gigs. The band have been playing shows throughout 2018 that have been building up to today, their final ever show at the Rebellion Bar in their hometown of Manchester, that sees them headline a completely sold out all day party with a line up that was kept a closely guarded secret until today.

After a downpour that forces us to seek shelter in several bars we finally enter the Rebellion Bar, of course familiar faces are immediately encountered including the great and good from Manchester’s DIY scene before the farewell to Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man kicks off with a short intense set from Rising Strike, that like the beer is the going to be the first of too many to count. It takes a while for your ears to attune to the fact that they are playing all the rhythms you’d expect from a ska band, except faster, much faster, and heavier, much heavier, that is all condensed down to short loud hardcore blasts.

Casual Nausea bring an anarcho fuelled and politically charged set that not only marks the end of Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man, but also celebrates Casual Nausea‘s drummer’s Birthday. A rousing DIY Or Die sums up the attitude behind today’s all day show perfectly, It’s only 3pm and the Rebellion Bar is approaching capacity which shows the level of affection that Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man have built up in their fourteen year existence. Tonight’s MC introduces each band, for each appearance he is wearing a different shirt from Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man history, each with its own slogan and animal.

Sounds Of Swami are next on today’s DIY bill, their high intensity punk n roll influenced alt rock takes no prisoners and keeps a day, that it must be said is already becoming a blur, running at full tilt. The number of face paintings increases as the day progresses, including a Pikachu that for some reason looks more like a friendly Captain Spalding, that adds to the party atmosphere that is spreading across the Rebellion Bar. The Domestics are next up following on from the release of the short but sweet split EP with Pizzatramp. The Domestics bring a touch of pure undiluted, and more than welcome, hardcore punk to the day.

Nosebleed are next up, they’re a band I’ve wanted to catch live ever since I heard their stunning Scratching Circles On The Dancefloor album, personal circumstances have always stopped this happening but today is finally the day, and they don’t disappoint on any level. The immaculately suited and booted Nosebleed capture everything that I love about garage punk in a twenty minute set. Their statement of “the king is dead long live the king” precedes the kind of set you would happily sell a relative for, Nosebleed released one of my favourites records of 2018, today confirmed them to also be one of the best live acts I’ve encountered this year.

Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man make their first appearance in all stars format borne of their previous members, it’s a set that embraces the bands roots and acknowledges those that have contributed to the bands fourteen year existence, albeit in a somewhat chaotic fashion, but it’s a set that serves as a warm up for tonight’s final ever appearance by Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man. Unlike the majority of reunion shows I’ve witnessed there is no animosity or division, this is purely a celebration of the passing of one of the cornerstones of Manchester’s DIY scene. 

The hardcore punk assault continues with Bobby Funk who continue to build on the DIY punk rock sensibility that has pervaded the all day festivities, despite it being only half past six it feels like a lot later. By the time Wonk Unit take the stage it feels even later, their own unique brand of anarcho pop punk is of course well received and as ever their set hits the spot nicely. Wonk Unit are swiftly followed by Pizzatramp, a band whose set is the perfect combination of welsh charm and hardcore aggression that is delivered in bite sized chunks. Matilda’s Scoundrels continue to build the feeling that today has been a condensed version of the Manchester Punk Festival, their Celtic punk strikes a positive chord with the crowd and any fan of Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly couldn’t help but fall in love with them.

Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man‘s 575th, and final ever show, is preceded by a bout of techno that takes tonight’s show back to Manchester’s Hacienda before they take take the stage for one last time, tonight’s last ever show only serves to remind you exact what Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man bought to the UK’s, and in particular Manchester’s punk scene. Their mix of humour, politics and hardcore punk is something that will be irreplaceable and tonight came across not so much as a funeral but rather a riotous wake. The stage is invaded throughout by fans and members of the support bands until finally The End Of Everything brings things to a chaotic end.

Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man will be missed but their legacy will live on through TNS Records and the Manchester Punk Festival. Tonight’s show took place across the road from the sterile club scene of Deansgate Locks, if there was ever a metaphor for the need for a healthy underground scene then that is it. Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man may be no more but the punk scene they have inspired and supported will live on, as will the hazy memory of tonight’s show. Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man may be gone but they certainly won’t be forgotten. 

The Punk Site review of Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man‘s final album can be read here

Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man‘s website can be found here

The Manchester Punk Festival‘s website is here

The TNS Records website is located here

Live photography is by Gary Hough, his Instagram account is located here and you can click on any of Gary’s photos to view a slide show of the images