Your heart is in your mouth as Charlie Herridge – Snayx’s inimitable frontman – ricochets around the stage, his head often narrowly missing the ceiling. Brushing past the projector and strobe lights, it almost feels safer when heâs in amongst the crowd, commanding the mosh pit from the centre. From the opening track âBoys In Blueâ, heâs making use of every inch of space â and there sure isnât much, as a sold-out crowd have squeezed into this shallow basement venue for the punk rock trioâs first Manchester headline date.
Hailing from West Sussex, Snayx (pronounced âsnakesâ) have become a defining part of a buzzing local punk scene alongside Kid Kapichi, Lambrini Girls, HotWax and Monakis; tonight, the latter provide support alongside London electro-punks Shelf Lives. Completed by bassist Ollie Horner and drummer Lainey Loops, Snayx are on a red-hot streak of thumping, riff-tastic singles, having dropped their debut EP âWeaponized Youth: Part 1â this April. Yet, itâs their live show that is beginning to set them apart â a wall of sound that can move mountains. No guitarist? No problem.
Tonightâs Manchester crowd have bought into it before a note has even been played. By the third song âIâm Deranged,â Herridge is well and truly drowned out, the room relishing the chance to scream back every word. Leading the way from the front is a fan called Sonia, the founder of their fan community, âThe Belly Crawlerzâ, whom Herridge invites on stage for a moment in a show of gratitude.
This special, eye-to-eye relationship with fans is a driving force behind Snayx, who are going above and beyond to foster a safe, inclusive space at their live shows. The band have invited Safe Gigs For Women to every gig on this headline run in an effort to educate male fans on how to be active bystanders and stamp out sexual assault in live music. It’s a move that feels synonymous with Snayx’ founding message â fighting for change, and saying it out louder for the people in the back.
As the walls recover from the hefty injection of bass, Herridge and Horner are hoisted onto the crowdâs shoulders in true Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes style for a cover of The Prodigyâs âBreathe.â It rounds off a flawless display from a vital band who are definitely capable of propelling UK punk far into the future.
Snayx played:
‘Boys In Blue’
‘Concrete’
‘I’m Deranged’
‘Body Language’
‘King’
‘False Friends’
‘H.A.N.G.’
‘Better Days’
‘Work’
‘Sink Or Swim’
‘FAYX
‘Breathe’
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