Featured image and gallery: Gracie Hall
Coventry punk rapper, shortstraw (aka, Erin West), commands the stage and dominates the mic from the get-go. West stomps around the stage with the attitude and aesthetic of the late Keith Flint, scorching through ‘Clean Up’ and ‘Sods Law’, the latter a song about the cost-of-living crisis. shortstraw join the likes of Deadletter, Benefits and Yard Act as artists emerging from the current depressing landscape of UK politics and the reality of those dealing with its consequences.
Formerly known as Daisy Brain, London band Tough Cookie are impressive. Fronted by the eccentric Will Tse, the four-piece bring an amazing energy to the room. ‘Too Anxious’ chronicles a story of how someone with anxiety feels about their own mind, with the line, “Sometimes I wish I could live as somebody else,” ringing true.
Guitarist Jess Ayres, drummer Gavin Sullivan and bassist Dan Hvorostovsky are the other Tough Cookie jigsaw pieces, and conclude their short but fiery set with ‘Something Punk’. A fan favourite set closer, Tse asks the crowd to crouch down as they chant “Something punk, something poetic,” – the only four words in the song – before launching them up into its mega crescendo.
With not even a debut album to their name yet, Liverpool quartet STONE bounce onto stage to a sold-out Manchester Academy 2. Shirtless frontman Finley Power exerts extreme confidence from the first note of ‘I Let Go’, an explosive start about knowing partying and drugs are bad for you, but still indulging anyway.
Only two songs in and Power has already been in to hug the fans at the front barrier. shortstraw joins the band onstage for an unreleased collaboration, ‘Never Gonna Die’, which leans more towards rap than STONE’s usual material.
Teasing their debut album, they jump into ‘Left Right Forward’, with Power launching himself into the audience to crowd surf. Guitarist Elliot Gill has the feverish energy of Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, spinning and jumping around the stage, never once stopping. Drummer Alex Smith is stoically keeping the chaotic energy of the band in time through the show as his beats pull every song together, while bassist Sarah Surrage rocks her side of the stage and joins an epic legacy of exceptionally cool and talented female bassists.
They return for a two-song encore of ‘Waste’ and ‘Leave it Out’. Ending on their debut single ties the evening together as the crowd comes together in one collective messy, sweaty moment that they’ll remember for a long time to come.
By Adam Taylor It’s time to post your top artists to show how cool and different you are. Spotify Wrapped for 2025 has finally dropped. This stat-loaded list of listening habits gets everyone excited, revealing top artists, songs, podcasts, music genres, and hours listened – which can be a bit concerning… Spotify adds new features…
Featured image: Suzy Hazelwood aAh! Magazine’s Literature and Creative Student Editors are delighted to announce our first online call for submissions for the 2025/26 academic year. This series invites creative writing students and visual artists to respond to the theme ‘Hometown’, offering the opportunity to showcase their work online. Manchester is a hometown for thousands, and simply…
Featured image and photography: Beck McNally Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield – a name that many Mancunian music-lovers will know well, died on 20 November this year. No official cause of death has been released to the public. The renowned bassist of The Stone Roses, and later Primal Scream, was a hugely influential musician – particularly in…
Featured image: Manchester City CouncilBy Adam Taylor and Amy Corringham Winter is approaching, but don’t let the cold and dark days stop you getting out and about – aAh! has gathered a selection of events for all budgets for you and your friends to enjoy. Get into the festival spirit with a variety of activities…
Leave a reply