Thekla Top Deck, Bristol, 6th December 2025
Regardless of their Saturday afternoon slot, the top deck filled out quickly with people of all kinds to see what the Bristol punks in M/X have to offer. Having seen them a few times now, I know everyone is in for a good time.
Starting with “Pavlov”, the audience is immediately engulfed by the performance on stage. The crowd is feeling somewhat shy, but this quickly resolved itself. It was clear from the get-go that this powerhouse provides a soundtrack for the misfits; a space in which we’re not only seen, but accepted, and frankly considered the coolest people in the room. With catchy lyrics encompassing topics such as the queer experience, the philosophical and romanticism of even the smallest parts of life, and a level of anger toward society reminiscent of the ever-popular Skins-era – all mixed over bass-heavy riffs and funky drums, the trio know how to put on a show that gets people moving, not just physically, but internally.
The very first time I saw M/X perform years ago, I fell in love with their theatrical performance full of emotion and passion. That same sentiment remained true, if not grew more powerful, with each performance I had the privilege to witness. They end their set with fan favourite “No Such Thing” – once again proving their relevance and dedication to the scene. The art of performance is just as important as evocative songwriting for acts like M/X with the likes of IDLES, Soft Play and Kid Kapichi; and M/X consist of three folks with an awkward charm that blends performance, theatre, engaging expressions of identity politics and just a hell lot of fun, guaranteeing this will not be the last we see of this Bristol powerhouse.
Words and photos: Willemjin Denneman, no use without permission.
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