WORDS AND IMAGES DESH KAPUR
On Saturday, September 28th, Mudhoney, the pioneering Seattle band that helped shape the grunge movement, took to the stage at Manchester’s New Century Hall. Formed in 1988, Mudhoney, led by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Matt Lukin, and drummer Dan Peters, has long been revered for their unpolished, distortion-heavy sound that blends punk energy with blues-soaked garage rock. The band’s influence on the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam is undeniable, and their Manchester show was a raw celebration of grunge that harkened back to the Seattle scene of the 1990s.
The setup for the night was minimalist—just guitars, amps, and drums—a perfect reflection of Mudhoney’s no-frills approach. The moment the band stepped on stage to loud applause, it was clear that the crowd was full of die-hard fans. Without much preamble, the band launched into “If I Think”, and instantly, their trademark fuzz-drenched guitars and abrasive yet catchy riffs filled the venue. The energy was palpable as Mark Arm’s snarling vocals and Steve Turner’s feedback-heavy guitar work took center stage. This was grunge at its finest—no polish, no excessive thrills, just unfiltered power and raw emotion.
The setlist was a retrospective of Mudhoney’s 30-year career, and not surprisingly, the oldest songs garnered the loudest cheers. Classics like “You Got It”, “Let It Slide”, “Touch Me I’m Sick”, and “Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More” brought the crowd to life, with the kind of noise only a room full of grunge aficionados could muster. But even the newer songs were met with just as much enthusiasm, a testament to the band’s dedicated fanbase.
Throughout the night, Mudhoney tore through their hits with an uncompromised energy that hasn’t dulled in decades. Their heavy, sludgy, and aggressive sound—defined by dissonant guitar work and a gritty punk ethos—still resonates as strongly today as it did in the early ‘90s. Turner’s guitar tones were pure genius, his long grey locks flying as he cracked out his solos with raw precision, and the entire band seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
Though the venue wasn’t packed to the brim, Mudhoney’s loyal fans were out in force, and the atmosphere was electric. The night reached a fever pitch during the encore, with rip-roaring performances of “Suck You Dry”, “Here Comes The Sickness”, and the iconic “In ‘N’ Out of Grace”. Mudhoney proved once again why they are considered one of the most influential bands to come out of the Seattle grunge scene, their iconic sound reverberating through the hall as if the ‘90s never ended.
In the end, Mudhoney’s performance was a reminder of their place in rock history—pioneers who may never have achieved the commercial success of their peers, but who remain a beloved and influential force in the grunge movement. Their sound, unpolished and raw, still packs a punch, showing that sometimes, the truest power in music comes from sticking to your roots.
SET LIST
( BASED ON PREVIOUS SHOWS )
1. If I Think
2. Move Under
3. Get Into Yours
4. Nerve Attack
5. Into the Drink
6. Almost Everything
7. Let It Slide
8. Good Enough
9. Judgement, Rage, Retribution and Thyme
10. Sweet Young Thing (Ain’t Sweet No More)
11. Touch Me I’m Sick
12. Little Dogs
13. You Got It
14. Who You Drivin’ Now?
15. Souvenir of My Trip
16. Tom Herman’s Hermits
17. F.D.K. (Fearless Doctor Killers)
18. Oh Yeah
19. Flush the Fascists
20. Next Time
21. Chardonnay
22. Paranoid Core
23. Human Stock Capital
24. 21st Century Pharisees
25. One Bad Actor
26. Encore:
27. Suck You Dry
28. Here Comes Sickness
29. In ‘n’ Out of Grace
FOLLOW MUDHONEY
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
