Lynks at Manchester Academy
There is nothing quite like Lynks. An unpasteurized shot of electro-punk chaos compressed into the shape of a human man, wrapped up in a gimp mask, creating tiny queer utopias wherever they goes. And what utopias they are; sub-blowing, criminally danceable beats, anthemically witty lyrics about the darkest corners of modern life, and pure, unapologetic, camp excess colliding in a fog of sweat and confetti.
While evoking the electro-clash roots of Peaches, the industrial chant of M.I.A., the sardonic drawl of Courtney Barnett, and the theatrics of Lady GaGa, Lynks’ music stands alone as something totally unique. And this uniqueness has earned them acclaim from the best; support tours with Metronomy and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, guest-host spots on Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6Music show, and personal praise from Elton John, to name just a few.
Off the back of instant classic ‘USE IT OR LOSE IT’, which fueled Lynks’ ascent to new heights, landing them a Spotify billboard, their own New Music Fix show with BBC6Music who lent the track 15+ spins, and thousands of new fans from viral music video clips, Lynks is doubling down with the anthemic ‘NEW BOYFRIEND’.
A twisted, queer lovechild of LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy and Confidence Man, ‘NEW BOYFRIEND’ struts into your headphones like a Scissor Sister on shrooms. An irresistible four-on-the-floor beat, meets a swaggering nu-disco bassline, while crunching guitars, distorted drum fills and plucked analog synths wrestle for the spotlight. It’s over this disrespectfully earworm-y backdrop that Lynks lays out a tale as old as time in a Murphy-esque drawl; codependent exes trying, and failing, to achieve a clean break-up. Night-out ambushes, knee-jerk lashings out and “just stay on my sofa” deceptions collide as Lynks implores their ex to “get a new boyfriend”, so they can finally move on with their life. It’s brutal and hilarious (“friends DON’T give each other head”), yet still maintains the beating human heart that charges all Lynks’ music. Underneath all the bravado, this is a song about two people who love each other deeply, and yet can never be together.
After a barnstorming set at Yes in 2023, Lynks returns to Manchester, don’t them at Canvas this time around.
