The DSM lV @ Future Yard 31st Jan 26
Independent Venue Week All Dayer
Story by Matthew Murray
05/02/2026
The DSM IV at Future Yard Birkenhead, right next to the entrance to the Mersey tunnel, across the river from Liverpool. It is the last day of January and those who've made it this far decided that it’s near enough and time to let your hair down again and hit the bar. The ‘All Dayer’ show, part of ‘Independent Venue Week’ was put on by Future Yard. Bands were on from around 4pm up until curfew at about 11.
The DSM IV are a 3 piece band formed in Liverpool in 2018.They are vocalist Guy McKnight, guitarist Jade Ormesher and Patrick Cummins on synths. Their sound is dark wave, post punk, industrial, blending electronic with harder edge guitars.
On stage they cut a striking presence, Guy, in a suit, shoes and white socks, captivates the audience. They are drawn in by his intensity. There is a similarity in his voice and looks to ‘Idles’ Joe Talbot (minus the Bristol twang). Jade, black jeans, high collar fitted black leather jacket and rocking her Gibson SG, giving it full throttle. Patrick, wearing a long black gestapo style trench coat, looking a bit mad scientist-like, switching between synths, conjuring up an early 80’s east of the Berlin wall synth vibe.
Guy is full of energy and chaos, frequently foraying into the audience and throwing or dropping the mic and stand and stumbling about. Lyrically he sings about diverse and sometimes dark subjects, mental health, depression and abuse. His goth-like vocal delivery adds to the dark, slightly distopian, vibe. The name of the band itself is actually a reference to a section of a mental health guide used by the American Psychiatric Association.
The guitars are heavy, grunting and distorted, really driving the song forward on ‘Pink Lady’ and ‘Wise Guy’. ‘Wise Guy’ also has some mournful analogue synth adding to the dark gothic feel. ‘White Wolf’ really shows off the full synth sound, you can hear a bit of influence from Vince Clark / Alison Moyet's ‘Yazoo’.
I spoke to Patrick and Jade about their musical influences - “Me personally, Vince Clark. He's a genius. Everything he touches is gold.” - admitted Patrick.
While Jade states her influences as “Robert Fripp and Brian Eno; Keith Richards when I was younger; and then David Bowie.” It was Keith Richards' influence that got her originally into playing guitar.
I asked about her guitars “I play an SG (Gibson). I’ve got a Fender Jazzmaster. I got in an accident when I was younger (which resulted in some compensation) and with the money I bought my guitars”. It shows good things can sometimes come from bad situations.
Asking Patrick about plans for this year he said - “We've got one album and one EP out of the minute. We've written, let's say, maybe 3 quarters of a new album. A few gigs in between as well.”
I asked him what management, record company or PR they had - “We have a booking agent. They book a lot of these gigs. We signed to 9 x 9 Records. Independent Liverpool one at the minute. Pressing vinyl for us and stuff.”
The DSM IV were followed by headline act ‘Insecure Men’, the avant-pop band led by Saul Adamczewski, formerly of ‘Fat White Family’. They are currently promoting their album ‘A man for all seasons’ out on Fat Possum records at the end of 2025.