We Saw This: Liquid Handcuffs + Guy and Marcus Blackman Experimentation Project

Reasons why this show at Hell’s Kitchen on Saturday night was bound to be good: Guy and Marcus rarely play; it was Liquid Handcuffs’ first show; Jack Mannix was launching a zine and the flyer promised cute boys that were young, hung and dumb.

The Guy and Marcus Blackman Experimentation Project is Marcus from UV Race and Guy from everything (Chapter Music boss/solo artist/keyboardist in Montero/writer/person responsible for introducing everyone to awesome overlooked Australian music). Guy explained what they do: “I play keyboards and Marcus sings. It’s puerile songs about sex. My favourite is called Sex Trance”.

Liquid Handcuffs is Jack Mannix from Circle Pit and Ben Hepworth from Repairs and Interzone. Aside from the new name, really it’s not that different from what they’ve been doing for the past few months as the Jack Mannix Band. It’s still morose rock, but they’ve added programmed beats instead of roping in a new drummer they’ve never rehearsed with for each show.

Tonight was also supposed to be the launch of Jack’s new zine, which I presumed would be brilliant because mostly everything he does is. He’d told me it would be a collection of his recent writing, prose and poetry, as well as photos, drawings and collage. He was really excited about it, which meant that everyone else was too.

On the way to the show my friends decided they needed weed. Usually this would not be a problem but since their dealers had declared a drought, it was. The solution they came up with was to buy some fake, synthetic weed from the sex shop. I thought this was the lamest thing I’d ever heard but they assured me it was not the hippie Damiana shit but the stuff that all the miners in Far North Queensland are losing their marbles over.

So we went to the sex shop. While a couple shopped for crotchless panties for her and a strap-on face dildo for him, the gentleman behind the counter informed us that, yes, they do sell synthetic weed and the one called Atomic Bomb was the way to go.

My friend forked over $55 for a teeny bag. The label called it ‘pot-pourri’ and warned that it was “not for human consumption”. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Because of the weed detour I was now late but I was earlier than the bands. Liquid Handcuffs were scheduled to play at 8pm but Jack was nowhere to be seen. Eventually he appeared, soaking wet, carrying a guitar and four large bags. He apologised to everyone, declaring that there would be no zine launch tonight because there was no zine. The print shop was closed, he ran out of money but, he assured us, he did have Liquid Handcuffs t-shirts to sell.

He just quickly had to make them.

This is very first Liquid Handcuffs t-shirt. It says “Liquid Handcuffs Are Dope”. Get it?

While this was going on, my friend rolled an Atomic Bomb. It stank. Purists turned up their noses when it was offered around, which was their loss because my buddies, to my surprise, got really stoned.

While Liquid Handcuffs set up, I saw a lot flesh.

Firstly, this guy’s stomach. He was moaning that he’s become fat and old (he’s 31) and pulled up his shirt to prove it. I told him it’s winter, so getting a gut is no biggie. He told me he’s joining the gym.

Then there was this. That’s Jarrod from Lost Animal pulling up Marcus’ shirt while his bandmate Guy looks on gleefully. What is going on?

Oh, a new tattoo.

Liquid Handcuffs were dope.

Jack always looks great, even with his fly down.

This is Dyana. She joined Jack for a duet.

Despite having the smallest amps ever they were still told to turn it down.

This is Stephanie. She wanted to show me her weird outfit, explaining that she was wearing it because she was going to a party after the show to make out with lesbians but was freaked out by the whole ensemble because she looked like her mother.

Outside my friends were suffering the after affects of the Atomic Bomb. They stared at the ground for a long time. What did they see?

Upstairs it was Guy and Marcus experimentation time. Guy kept hitting his head on the light fixture, which kept ruining my photos.

They were awesome, although Jack was the only one dancing.

Stephanie obviously could not wait for the lesbians so she joined Jack for a smooch.

Seems they were caught in a Sex Trance.

I didn’t get smooched but I did get this t-shirt.

One more word from Mr Mannix: his zine will now be launched at the next Liquid Handcuffs show, Sept 13th at the Liberty Social with Superstar and School of Radiant Living.