Proudly Mancunian in attitude and influences, the laddish five-piece Alias Kid are unapologetic in their approach to catalysing British rock of the 1990s. So bold in fact the driving rhythms and guitars unexpectedly evoke desert rock a la Kyuss and Queens Of The Stone Age in the tight, blacked-out four walls of the Joiners.

The set is a refreshingly brief 30 minutes, not for lack of enjoyable songs however, just a concise selection of their best. ‘Dirty Soul’ with its inclusive chants of “come on”, the punk-melodic balance of ‘Zara Henna’, and the call to arms anthem ‘Revolution Sometime’, demonstrate their mastery of three chord thrashing. It’s an easy ride.

Frontman Maz Behdjet Interjects between songs with shots of jovial ribbing, directing “James has no friends” towards an unfazed lead guitarist. Clearly used to this sort of tough love, his face gives nothing away from behind a pair of dark glasses. Behdjet also takes a friendly jab at the ill and absent co-frontman Sean O’Donnell, spitting out an assortment of four-letter expletives. He displays a similar character to that of one of the Gallagher brothers. They’ve signed to creation records, Alan McGee’s legendary record company, meaning they’re actually label mates with Oasis, the only difference being that Alias Kid are an active band, not just a relic of Manchester’s rock scene. Many tip Behdjet and co as real world beaters, McGee himself claiming “they’re wilder than Oasis”.  

The earnest ballad ‘Smoke and Ashes’ reveals a gentler side to Alias Kid. It’s not quite a sweet lullaby, nor a down-stroked power chord stomp, but an unpretentious sing-along with a lot of warmth. It is this well thought out and soulful songwriting that pervades their music - even the rougher, testosterone-fuelled barnstormers are approachable. McGee’s “hooligans with a heart of gold” have shown more heart that hooliganism on stage tonight. Maybe the deviant behaviour is kept for after the show where the real and enduring rock n roll myths are born.

Words by Daniel Cook