Machine Girl are a difficult band to describe; their music straddles so many genres that it can be quite an assault on the senses. Their latest release, 2024’s ‘MG Ultra’ album, is electronica, hardcore, punk and rave with the songs jumping around between these different sounds. One song can feel like listening to 100 Gecs and then seconds later listening to Limp Bizkit.
Tonight, they bring their maximalist music to a sold-out Trinity as part of their biggest UK tour to date. The queue is much longer than is typical for this venue, stretching around the car park as the doors open. Almost the entire audience has turned up from the start, making it abundantly clear that this is a show people are particularly excited for.
Two fantastic, eclectic support acts warm the crowd up to a rapturous response. Industrial punk duo, Silverwingkiller, are a perfect start. Last in the city supporting Fat Dog at the Thekla in November, their short but powerful electronic songs receive a far better reception tonight. Bristol DJ and visual artist, Mun Sing, follows with an exhilarating club show combined with a theatrical, drag-like performance. In another setting, this set may have not got the reaction it deserved but the Machine Girl audience treated this like a headliner. The combination of two perfectly chosen openers and a clearly up-for-it audience elevates the atmosphere, pushing it into a frenzy by the time the main band take to the stage.
The crowd’s energy is relentless throughout. There are never-ending crowd surfers in all directions; many (arguably nonsensically) surfing towards the back of the room leaving those gathered around the mixing desk to safely lower them down in the absence of security in that area. Everyone is dancing along, it’s friendly and energetic and a real testament to the thrilling sonic joy of Machine Girl’s music.
Around half of tonight’s set comes from ‘MG Ultra’ but there’s plenty from across the duo’s back catalogue including opener ‘…BECAUSE I’M YOUNG ARROGANT AND HATE EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR’ and two other tracks from that same project.
The live approach is less genre-bending than on record. It might be a sound mixing issue but they are more like a straight-forward hardcore band in the room rather than the mind-altering hyperpop breakcore demonstrated on their recent projects. The guitars are loud but some of the unusual electronic elements are difficult to make out or missing entirely.
Clearly more than just a studio project, Matt Stephenson is a formidable frontman and joins the crowd in, or on, the audience before making his way to the back of the room and performing stood on the merch desk ahead of the encore.
The band rarely pause for breath and the 20+ song setlist whizzes by in under 90 minutes leaving the crowd both exhausted and yet ready for more. There is no doubt that Machine Girl’s stock will continue to rise and their next visit to Bristol will be in one of the larger venues. If they can replicate the recorded sound more clearly in their live performances, they will be unstoppable.
