Man/Woman/Chainsaw
Words by Megan Rhys-Challis, Photograph by Ella Margolin
When I told people I was interviewing Man/Woman/Chainsaw, if they weren’t already familiar with the group’s music their first reaction was always “what a fucking cool band name”. And they would be right, it is a really great name. But that’s not the only cool thing about this raucous and orchestral six-piece.
Man/Woman/Chainsaw’s music first came into my life just over a year ago when the Spotify algorithm decided that “Any Given Sunday” would be something I was into. It gripped me instantly. The distorted, building guitar provides the ideal backdrop for singer Billy’s spoken narrative, of which the lines “A song comes on and suddenly you’re six again/In the backseat of your friend’s mother’s Citroen Picasso/It’s ‘Like a Prayer’ and I swear, I don’t get like this every day” conjured childhood memories I had forgotten existed.
After several attempts to meet in person (rail strikes, my pesky nine-to-five, gigs etc.) we decided a video call would be the next best thing. I log on, get the notification that several people are waiting in my chosen video software’s virtual lobby, and let them in. We exchange small talk and chat about Lola’s giant fur hat and whether or not it had a name while we wait for all six band members to join which takes a little time to coordinate. Lola jokes that this is “a glimpse of what it’s like to get us all in a room together”, it’s chaotic but in an endearing way. We eventually get most of the band on and decide to start.
I ease into the interview by asking them how they are, if they’re busy and about their most recent show in Brighton, the city I live in. They tell me they are good (and mean it), they’re busy (they’ve got a lot of shows booked) and that the Brighton gig was one of their recent favourites. “We do generally have a good time in Brighton when we play. I don’t know. It’s just something about the place. Good vibes in Brighton. Yeah, good vibes in Brighton” they agree almost in unison. Emmie adds “There was a good sound guy, a really good sound guy [at the Prince Albert]...Leon! Leon.”.
We agree that Brighton is great, Leon the sound guy is a legend (shoutout if you’re reading this), and that the Prince Albert is a great venue. I then get onto asking them about the name ‘Man/Woman/Chainsaw’ and where they got it. This is a question I don’t love but felt that with a name like theirs, it had to be asked. Billie takes this one, “Me and Ben were in a film club in year 10 and there was a book of horror films called Men, Women and Chainsaws, and we joked that it would be a good name for a band - and it kind of stuck. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with it. I feel like everyone does
with their band name”. We all murmur in agreement and Emmie adds, “I don’t think it really reflects – like, when you hear Men, Women and Chainsaws, I think you think of, like, some really, like, hardcore, like, metal-y shit and we’re, like, a lot softer than the name. Especially now. We started off playing a lot, like, more aggressive music, you know.” I say that I want to come back to this topic of how their music and writing process has evolved since becoming a six-piece, but for now we’ve strayed into how telling your Nan that you’re called ‘Man/Woman/ Chainsaw’ is embarrassing. We chat about other bands with left-field names. I ask, “Do you guys know Mannequin Pussy?”. “Yeh! They’re so great” replies Billy, “I wonder what their Gran thinks...”.
When I was reading up Man/Woman/Chainsaw in preparation for my chat with them, I found that lots of people don’t really know how to categorise their music (but were all in agreement that it’s very good). Some call them art rock, math rock, post-punk, art-punk. I mean it doesn’t really matter, genres are confusing and interlinking and sometimes a bit cringey. But I was curious so I asked them, how do they categorise their music? Vera replies, “Yeah. I don’t fucking know. I literally don’t know.” Billy then offers up “I think it’s post-punk isn’t it, under that umbrella?” Emmie joins in, “I don’t think it’s post-punk. It’s getting too poppy. Art punk. I quite like how Mary and the Junkyard describe themselves as chaos rock. I quite like that.”
After lots of healthy debate, we all agree that super specific sub-genres can be a little bit wanky and to move on. At this point I’m thinking I’ve done enough hard- nosed music journalism and decide on my next question. “Do you believe in ghosts?”. They all concur that, yes, they do believe in ghosts. Emmie answers, “I believe they’re definitely around and they’re not malicious, they’re just there”. At this point Vera pipes up, “No dude, I think some of them are malicious like how some people are malicious and some people are really nice. I reckon it would be the same with ghosts - you probably have bitches and legends”. “Ah yes, the two categories of people” I reply.
This then sets me up for my next question, “if you could start any rumour about MWC what would it be?”. The band go quiet and think on this for a bit, Lola then pipes up “It would be pretty cool if people thought we were ghosts. A band of bitches and legends.” “I can start that if you want.” I say. “Haha, I think I would like people to think we had a dragon for a roadie” Billy adds. This is in reference to a previous question where I asked if they could have any animal as a pet, what would it be.
The resounding answer was a dragon who could double as their roadie. Nice.