James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
The night begins with Megafaun, an alternative folk band with beards to rival that of Gandalf. These guys were fun to watch, even if the harmonies were a little uncertain. The experimental songs and seemingly spontaneous ten minute epics made me want to look them up again, if not to buy the album.
A quick break to the bar and we’re back for tonight’s main event. Scala is packed. I love liking unknown bands – not least for the cheap tickets (never more than £15) but because of the crowd – you know that everyone that turns up to these things loves the band as much as you do. And get really into it. And know all the words. The atmosphere is euphoric.
The Dodos bring an ecstatic energy to the performance – amazing, considering they’re still jet lagged from the flight. The opening of 'Pain the Rust', from Visitor, is tight and succinct. Singer/guitarist Meric Long creates an awesome stage presence, pulling off intricate finger work whilst jumping around stage like a duracell bunny on speed. This continues for the rest of the night. The gaps are filled with Long telling anecdotes about a song he’d dreamt the previous night which “sounds awesome in my head dude!” Highlights include Fables, a gentler song showing, on the album atleast, evidence of Phil Ek producing – the man also responsible for production on the Fleet Foxes self-titled debut. A Time To Die featured Long and Snyder playing the vibraphone with violin bows, building complex patterns vaguely reminiscent of Animal Collective, then moving seamlessly into 'Fools'. The stage blacks out for 'Troll Nacht', for which the band wear finger LED lights that suit this tenderer, emotive song perfectly. The vibraphone adds another dimension to the music which was slightly lacking in previous albums. The lack of bass guitar goes unnoticed. The first set ends with an epic extended version of 'The Season'. The crowd loves it. And so, it seems, do the band.
The crowd’s response appears to somewhat overwhelm the Dodos, who still seem a little amazed by their own success, which makes me like them all the more. Coming back for two encores, they play 'Walking' and 'Men'. When they eventually walk off stage for the last time, it’s to cheers and rapturous applause. The Dodos won’t suit everyone, but they sound awesome in my head, dude...
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