The Permissive Society

I first found The Permissive Society by accident nigh on a year ago. I was having some drinks with a girl who was inevitably far too pretty for me but I still did hope that the noisy bastards to my right would cease their unholy racket for a short while so she may at least have the chance to fall in love with my mind. The noisy bastards then introduced themselves to their meagre audience and I duly gave up and forgot about everything from that night.

That was their first performance together.

Then, but three months later, I heard someone tell somebody else's mate's sister's boyfriend about the hottest new band in Manchester. They couldn't describe what The Permissive Society sounded like. How intriguing. I investigated further, realisation dawned upon me, and enjoyment set in. It is good.

Now I find the exhilarating quartet bundled into the Burger King area of Manchester's Big Hands. It is hot and it is loud and the band has just seen a half-page feature on them in Citylife magazine - they're all catching on now. Throwing his wiry frame through jagged shapes across the stage, Sean Gregson captivates the audience with staccato yelps and murmured bellows while Joe Parkinson (guitar) and Gary Dumbarton (bass) contort their instruments through the guttural stances and high speed precision playing that provides outstanding accompaniment. You cannot even see the drummer.

The Permissive Society are as local as you can get without sounding like a Manchester band. They are currently recording their debut record, of unconfirmed length, with the mighty Captains of Industry and, come the spring, it will be your turn to discover them.