Marvin's Revenge @ The Bodega, Nottingham, UK, 20 January 2024

Marvin's Revenge, PASTE, Skitz Wizards, Sex Toy Vending Machine

Marvin's Revenge @ The Bodega, Nottingham, UK, 20 January 2024,

January 24, 2024
By Dom Gourlay
Photo by Morgan Howard
Web Exclusive

Nottingham is a city on the cusp of a wave right now when it comes to its music scene. For the first time in years, there is a plethora of bands and artists emerging across the city and even further afield across the county and surrounding areas. While the success of the Sleaford Mods over the past decade has undoubtedly drawn attention to the area, the likes of Do Nothing, Divorce, FatCat Records signings Midnight Rodeo and Ferocious Dog have all made steady strides towards national recognition in recent times. While experimental atmospheric trio Eyre Llew went even further, exploiting suitors around the world after touring various parts of Europe and Southeast Asia.

If the seeds were sewn by all of the above, the ripe harvest they produced has seen Bloodworm, Otala, Bored Marsh, Sobscene and tonight's headliners, Marvin's Revenge emerge as prime contenders to be the next big thing to break. of the city.. What's even more exciting is the genuine DIY spirit and supportive nature that favors the Nottingham scene at the moment. Headlining Backyard festival, an all-day event that managed to sell over 200 tickets with proceeds going to MacMillan Cancer Support and filling Bodega's tight confines in the process, Marvin's Revenge may be the biggest names on the bill today it was a collective effort that exemplifies the local scene.

Chief organizer Louis Gately is a pivotal figure throughout the day. Soaphead's band play their regular set first doors before Gately takes center stage later for a guest appearance singing lead vocals with Marvin's Revenge on “Jack (Let Go Of The Door)”, the trio's latest single which almost it lifts the roof off the space. and several shoes from the feet of many crowdsurfers. In the audience, members of Otala, Sobscene, Sancho Panza and Midnight Rodeo (among others) can be seen bouncing around the various sets on offer, while the bands share various players – Sex Toy Vending Machine's bassist also plays with political activist hard-punks Skitz Wizards for example – adding to the sense of general camaraderie and good vibes throughout the day and night.

Musically, the majority of the line-up focuses on the heavier side of the Nottingham scene with the aforementioned Skitz Wizards and melodic grunge outfit PASTE both drawing major moshpits to their entertaining schtick. Sex Toy Vending Machine is another interesting combination, even without their regular drummer. With a sound that oscillates between lo-fi slacker indie rock and effects-heavy shoegaze, they sound the most complete of the undercard to outdo the next. But that doesn't mean any of the other acts featured aren't on a similar level.

Nonetheless, it's Marvin's revenge that the smart money is on moving beyond the region in the coming months. Originally from the Derbyshire town of Wirksworth, but now mainly based in Nottingham, the trio have grown from humble beginnings into a colossal unit worthy of their peers. Citing the likes of The Jesus Lizard, The Melvins, Nirvana and The Sound as influences, their repertoire has seen songs written as little as six months ago. Instead, choosing to focus on a seven-song set consisting of four unreleased compositions alongside three of last year's excellent VR Porn EP, which received both critical acclaim and radio play on BBC 6Music. The trio – Luke Eaton (bass, vocals), Oliver Sammels-Moore (guitar) and Job Gregory (drums) – have become a tight-fisted machine over the past few months who are understandably whipping the room into a frenzy from the moment new 'Whorl' opens them set to the last aspect of the giant closer “VR Porn”. Having seen the band numerous times over the past eighteen months, it's hard to pick an exact point where “shit got real,” but last March's incendiary performance supporting Canadian punk legends Fucked Up would be as good a place to start as any. like every.

However, tonight's blistering set represents a no-holds-barred exercise in sonic exorcism, each song sounding like it was their last. Which in this form it certainly won't be. By the end, there's sweat dripping from the walls and ceiling, shoes and clothes strewn across the track and a general sense that 2024 might just be the year Nottingham goes broke.

Watch this space.