05.28.08
It’s not for the cock, it’s for joining the dots
Dot to Dot Festival, Nottingham 24/25 May
It’s that thing again in Nottingham when all the dirty indie/alternative clubs and venues are filled with bands and fans and everyone gets trashed whilst stumbling around trying to get in to see the next big thing. Only, it doesn’t seem quite as mental this year…perhaps because instead of just being on bank holiday Sunday, Dot to Dot has now been stretched over the whole weekend. At least it’s not raining. Yet.
Saturday 24th
One of the first bands of the weekend should really be one of the last. Logic clearly dictates that the best, and possibly only, time for Metronomy would be at 3am in a sweating, bulging, shape throwing Stealth. The fact that they are on in the 14 plus Rock City at 4pm is just plain silly. However, they make the best of it and actually pull off a pretty good show. It’s strange seeing them on a stage this big, but they handle it very well- bouncing on their toes and pulling their dance routine to the funk electro work out.
Next up in the same venue is Saul Williams wearing a multi coloured feather headrest and stalking about the stage with wild eyes. Along with his live band, Saul Williams pulls off a captivating and entertaining set. The likes of “List of Demands”, “Gunshots by Computer” and the U2 cover “Sunday Bloody Sunday” make a refreshing hip hop sound and a breath taking gig.
Later Rescue Rooms is rammed full for Ladyhawke. The band deliver a bland, weak set of standard fare indie. “Paris is Burning” has been getting quite a bit of attention and radio play recently, and even though it does half heartedly nick from Gary Numan’s back pocket, it at least can be danced to in a sort watery synth way. Live, though, it’s played without any enthusiasm and melts into the rest of the performance.
Next up at Stealth to rescue the situation is The Mae Shi. As the band bounce onstage and rip into their set, the packed venue is awash with smiling faces and nodding heads. The Mae Shi at some point sound a bit like a modern, thrashier version of the Flaming Lips. At other points, they just sound fucking awesome and loud and fast. Most band member spends the majority of the gig in the crowd, on someone’s shoulders or straddling the barrier. As the set comes closer to an end, the band throw a big white sheet over the whole crowd, like those parachute games kids play. Although it’s hard to say why, this gives everyone the licence to really go for the manic dancing and when the band crowd surf now, they’re treated like heroes. The Mae Shi- the best band of Dot to Dot so far.
After the personal disappointment of Bumlebeez (basically a great DJ being slightly overshadowed by a man and a woman jumping around and rapping/shouting over the top. You’re not Bonde Do Role.) it’s time for Dan Deacon. Positioning himself in front of the stage, on the dance floor and with his back to the crowd, Deacon starts a raucous count down with everyone joining in. We reach 1, the main man starts attacking his big board of effects pedals, microphones and other gadgetry and everyone around him goes nuts. Dan Deacon is, to say the least, eclectic in his music. One minute sounding like Holy Fuck on fast forward, the next wrestling out arm waving anthems and the next making euphoric, buzzing techno songs. After a while, he asks for the lights to be turned on and then tells everyone to create a big circle in the middle of the floor. After he’s quickly explained the rules (like a drunken, rave idea of Fight Club) we proceed to have a dance off. This is great fun and only slightly tarnished by the naked guy gyrating up to dancing girls and doing the “helicopter”. Other highlights include doing that chain thing where people create a tunnel with their hands, everyone drunkenly hugging Dan Deacon like he’s their weird dance music creating uncle and everyone crouching down on one knee before jumping back up as the music kicks in. Basically, Dan Deacon is amazing and certainly gave The Mae Shi (present in the audience) a run for their money.
Sunday 25th
The dust has settled on the night before, the hangovers are being pushed away and it’s time for the next onslaught of bands. Sons And Daughters, at Rock City, create a jaunty guitar sound that help kick things into swing. The band may not be particularly original and it takes the majority of their set before they really get going, but they’re enjoyable non the less.
Next is the newly reinvented Mystery Jets. Having moved on from their gypsy prog rock, their classic pop sheen is very much welcomed. The band rattle through new and old songs, tight as anything, to a warm and receptive, and full, Rock City. The last two songs, though, are when things become really great. Last and latest singles, “Young Love” and “Two Doors Down” are fantastic, fun and bouncy pop anthems. The crowd dance and sing along until the set finishes and the band don’t seem to want to leave the stage.
After a quick dash through the rain to Rescue Rooms, it’s time to watch the beautiful and strange Wild Beasts. The band undoubtedly create sweet little pop songs, only they litter them with bizarre falsetto vocals, flourishing piano and illustrious language. Latest single “Devils Crayon” is brilliant, sounding like the Editors with new found flare and sense of adventure. The only downside to the set is the fact that they play the singles, “Assembly”, “Brave Bulging” and “Devils Crayon”, right at the start leaving a lot of unknown materiel after this. On occasions, Wild Beasts are just a bit too weird for their own good, but on the whole they have intelligence, fun and flare.
Brave Bulging Bouyant Clairvoyants
At the Bodega Social, fans of folk and poncy indie alike are literally squeezing themselves in to see Noah and the Whale. The band do make a nice, easy on the ears sound that caresses the heaving mass that is upstairs at the Social, however there seems something missing. They could almost be a pop loving Arcade Fire, or a posh Belle and Sebastian. Almost, but not quite.
After missing out on Santogold due to her being quite popular right now and people getting into the venue two hours early to shotgun a place, the next band is Glasvegas. After making us wait, the band finally come on and certainly create quite an atmosphere. All dressed in their leathers with the smoke around them being picked up by the red lights, they look pretty damn cool and impressive. Unfortunately, the epic, wall of sound that Glasvegas make is lost and muffled live in Rescue Rooms. Instead of hitting you like a wave and being full of subtleties, it all becomes a loud mush of noise. This is a shame as on record they are melancholy, grand and touching.
Kissy Sell Out is in the main hall of Rock City and gets things going excellently. Playing some of his various remixes along with dance classics, he air horns his way to where the party is at. Classic dance fused with new electro sounds is his thing and it’s just a shame they didn’t let him play all night.
The weekend was definately a success. Despite the fact it was raining again, the fact that it should probably have stayed as a one day event and that last year gave stupidly high expectations to live up to, Dot to Dot 2008 played host to some great bands and sets and a lot of fun.
Flip said,
May 28, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Sums up the weekend perfectly. The best being the Mae Shi and Dan Deacon by miles, although the mae shi were probably better, just for the fact that they were fortunate enough not to get a stripper half way through their set. Also Glasvagas nearly saved their set with the last two songs but it was still a big disappointment.
Lets hope they’ll see sense and put it back to one day but I doubt that will happen.
G Town said,
May 28, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Yeah it really should have been one day. I ended up going home pretty early on Saturday (well, like 1/2ish?) to preserve energy for sunday.
It’s a shame I missed the end of Glasvegas as it sounds that was the best bit..