Some gigs pack a huge air conditioned hall to the rafters and still fail to spark any atmosphere. This one was the exact opposite. A small, stuffy basement at The Peer Hat in Manchester played host to an almost family style show from British band Väin Wild and Scottish outfit Bad Actress. Despite the tiny room, the small crowd, and minimal lighting, the night was literally scorching hot. That intimate setting and closeness to the stage meant everyone there had a great time and got the chance to really connect with both bands.
The evening opened with Väin Wild. The British act sits somewhere between glam rock and hard rock, drawing heavily on the 1980s. ‘High Night‘ and ‘Off the Chain‘ kicked things off, putting the crowd in a brilliant mood. The band then tore into a cover of Billy Idol‘s ‘Rebel Yell‘, with the singer stepping off the stage to join the audience. Artem’s vocal range is genuinely impressive, while Tizzy Wild’s rich, melodic solos are the kind that stick in your head. One solo in particular stood out as a full minute played entirely with tapping. Their next cover was The Kinks‘ ‘You Really Got Me‘, and the crowd sang along at full volume. With the audience thoroughly warmed up, the band followed with ‘Moving On‘ and ‘Whiskey’s Down the Drain‘. Bassist James Brown and new drummer Harry Halifax each got a moment to show off their chops with short solo spots before closing with an improvised jam.
After a short break, Bad Actress took over. This Scottish band works in a similar musical vein to the openers. Built around the McFarlan brothers, Lewis on vocals and Struan on lead guitar, the rhythm section rounded out the lineup with Euan Campbell on bass and Shaun Middleton on drums. The crowd clearly knew the songs and witnessed a set full of heavy rock power. Not even a couple of minor technical hiccups could throw them off. A stage curtain collapsed mid performance, and a microphone briefly cut out. The mic problem in particular was handled like a true professional as the singer grabbed a spare on the fly and carried straight on. Bad Actress ran through tracks like ‘She’s Got Fire‘, ‘Feel My Pain‘, ‘Don’t Look Down‘, ‘Living In Paradise‘, and ‘Good Times‘, alongside a new track called ‘Bad Obsession‘.
The night was full of jumping, singalongs, and standout solo moments. Despite the heat, the humidity, and the thick mix of smoke and sweat in the club, people had an absolute blast. The only dampener came once everyone stepped outside and learned England had just lost their World Cup semi final. Even that probably did not ruin the night, as people still headed home happy and in great spirits. It is just a shame so few people got to see these two fantastic bands in action. Manchester really needs to give them a proper welcome in much bigger numbers next time.
