Trash-o-Rama First Birthday Bash, Retro Bar, Manchester, September 3
ALL GOOD birthday bashes should include sweeties, sparkles, streamers, shandies and the chance to dance yourself silly. And by these rules Trash-o-Rama gives a great party.
For a start you don’t need to tart yourself up in a formal party frock, or make sure you follow some unwritten dress code to avoid disapproving glances a la your average indie disco.
Here is a haven for all those who dance to their own fashion tune – only to find it out of sync with haircuts by numbers and one type of trouser leg. At Trash-o-Rama be your own point of fashion – be it English geisha, 1970s PE lesson participant with a glamorous day glo edge or indeed a celebration of spangly gold leggings with ripped floral blouse and turquoise wig – hurrah for bright colours!
The music follows the same ethos – it’s about getting down and dirty on the dance floor rather than standing around nodding ironically. Who wants to nod ironically all night? Not when you’ve got a veering variety of party tunage, from riot grrrl to electropop, to throw yourself around to.
Between the disc spinning there are three bands to get your teeth stuck into, once you have chomped down on those lovely free sweeties and enjoyed a perusal of the fanzine, book, music and
artwork stall.
First up are synth-guitar duo Statement Haircut, with bouncy electro and a nice line in melodica and hammering beats a funky woodpecker would be proud of.
All girl three piece No Womb are next on, and their industrial noise, complete with gritty guitar and primal screaming, would make an ideal soundtrack to setting something on fire. Even their more mellow moments bring sunshine that burns.
Alas Thrush Metal, featuring models Alice Dellal and Emma Chitty, had to pull out due to ill health. But Klaus Kinski were on hand to finish the live sets on a raucous high with ominous guitar-driven mayhem and atonal menace.
All in all a delightfully debauched bash to treasure. But remember kids – a party night is for life, not just for birthdays so see you on the Trash-o-Rama dancefloor next month!
Article & photos: Kerry Ashdown
To keep up with Trash-o-rama & find out about future events visit their Facebook group
