Sometimes a night out just escalates.
Saturday 8th December 2019 was one of those nights — when Wonk Unit and Laserchrist took over The Star & Garter in Manchester, and everything descended (or maybe ascended?) into a sweaty, glorious mayhem. I went with Rich and Garry (always a recipe for something), catching the train from Rhyl, and by the time the night was over we were moshing, drenched in beer, and... maybe a tiny bit tipsy.
🚂 The Journey
We kicked things off catching the train from Rhyl — excited, fresh from our yoga session and drinking herbal tea, and ready for whatever Manchester could throw at us. The Star & Garter, nestled behind Piccadilly Station, is already a venue that feels like it’s held together with spirit, electrician's tape and sweat — the perfect backdrop for what was to come.
🔊 Wonk Unit: Punk with a Personal Touch
Wonk Unit don’t just play gigs. They create punk-powered parties that blur the lines between performer and audience — just don't ask to be on the guest list. We somehow ended up chatting to Alex, the band’s charismatic frontman, and when he heard we’d be bailing 20 minutes before the end to catch the last train, he literally rewrote the setlist on the spot to include the songs we came to hear. Absolute legend.
The set was chaotic, funny, loud, and full of heart. Moshing broke out, stage-diving kicked off, and somewhere in the madness, someone dressed as a man-sized pigeon started dancing in the pit. There's apparently video evidence out there... unless the herbal tea was a hallucinogen one (Tesco's finest).
💥 Laserchrist: Angsty Hardcore Fire
Laserchrist were a perfect support act — pretty well spaced out songs, as in, good spaces within their songs (does that make sense?). Their American-style hardcore sound had a dogged punch with memorable tunes. Definitely worth checking out their ‘DIY-Bother EP’ if you like fast, emotional, raw (almost) hardcore punk. They had the crowd riled up early and set the tone for the night ahead.
🍻 The Aftermath
Did we get too drunk? Yes. Did someone throw up? Probably. Did we care? Not one bit.
This wasn’t just a gig — it was an experience: part punk show, part social experiment, part drunken odyssey. It had heart, laughter, bruises, beers, and a pigeon. Everything you want from a proper underground show. Somehow, I don't know how, we caught the last train home.
When you wake up the following morning and you can't see properly, you know it's gonna be a pyjama day.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat.
With water next time.
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