LIVE FROM THE PIT: Machine Girl, Aya, Goreshit

A chaotic night of intense futuristic music enjoyed by a young crowd simply living in the moment.

The bill of acts featured music that sounded like the future. The first artist of the night was GORESHIT. Unusually, GORESHIT’s set started only fifteen minutes after doors opened, meaning many of the fans, who had arrived early, were still outside waiting to be let in while the music started. GORESHIT’s set consisted of intense breakcore sounds that were slightly off kilter. The set was a fun blast of intensity to open the evening, the crowd even hit a few dance moves to start the descent into chaos as the night unfolded. The music was crafted through live beats and mixes, creating an organic sound despite being fully digital. It worked well to bring the venue into this otherworldly futuristic atmosphere.

Next up was AYA, bringing a blend of interesting beats and intense performance. She put many aspects into her stage presence, from mixing sounds while crawling on the table to cracking jokes about growing up queer in Yorkshire, it was honest and relatable to the crowd. The floor started to gain traction as the first pits of the evening opened. It was a combination of standard moshing with people just throwing any dance moves, and a world of freedom without labels or rules. Everyone was one under modern music. One of the highlights of the set that felt almost comedic was the use of a sample from the chorus of Gimmie Chocolate by BABYMETAL. The use of interesting samples and musical textures created something that could not be heard anywhere else.

MACHINE GIRL sounded futuristic and have done for a while. Their current sound is a blend of everything they have achieved. Currently performing as a three piece, their live sound makes them function more as a punk band than anything electronic. They are this intense mixture of elements, electronic and organic, and are simply powerful on stage. As soon as the band hit the stage they became one with the audience. The crowd simply exploded in joy and everyone was moving in some way. Crowd surfers in the sky, two steppers, moshers and silly dancers, everyone was in the mood to party with MACHINE GIRL.

Every single moment of their set was intense. The lighting was almost as ferocious as the band with its unrelenting movement. The best way to describe the sound of MACHINE GIRL is simply brain scratching. Every song they played in this hour and a half was simply joyful. They managed to flow effortlessly between styles. One minute you were bopping along to a groove, then had your face melted off with metal screams. The crowd did not rest for one second of the show. The music powered them to keep going. The venue was full of love and passion, anyone who entered as a casual fan left like a lifelong devotee. The crowd was young, very few “Radio 6” dads in sight, but it was a cross section of everyone - metalheads, punks, scene kids, ravers and just general music fans. 

MACHINE GIRL appeal to everyone who wants something different in music that they can just have a fun time with. The band did not spend much time talking to the crowd but they spent all the time interacting with them. MACHINE GIRL’s vocalist spent a significant amount of time performing in the crowd. In different areas around the venue, on stairs and even on the sound desk. It was hard to know where to look so everyone just kept moving to the beat.

Words: Will Freeman

Photos: Kelsey Tomlinson