– ACADEMY 3, MANCHESTER –
Since their formation back in 2008, Nottingham based outfit Dog Is Dead have certainly put the time in with several single/EP releases and a large amount of gigs under their belts. It seems that all of their hard work is paying off though, as the quintet are now signed to Atlantic records and have finally gotten round to creating their much anticipated debut album, ‘All Of Our Favourite Stories’ which was released at the start of this month and is full to the brim of perfect indie pop hits!
Tonight marks the first night of their UK headline tour in support of the album and we’re at the Academy 3 in Manchester where the room is full of well dressed sixth formers excitingly awaiting to sing their hearts out with their new favourite band.
After an hilarious set of close to bone acoustic folk songs from tongue in cheek troubadour ‘Beans On Toast’, Dog is Dead arrive on stage to rapturous applause and starting with album opener ‘Get Low’ which superbly displays some of the many qualities; awesome five part harmonies and sumptuously strong grooves. Once we’ve been eased in, the band rip into current single ‘Talk Through The Night’ closely followed by album highlight ‘Do the Right Thing’ which ensue big crowd sing-along’s in all their uplifting glories. ‘River Jordan’ and ‘Burial Ground’ act as mid-set epic’s, the former offering the band’s most rocking moment as the crowd frantically jump around the room and the later jams out ethereal harmonies and a jaunty saxophone solo.
The band end their main set with a spine tingling rendition of older track ‘The Well’ which is a stripped back number, with a sparse percussive beat and again those perfect harmonies that would make Mumford And Sons weak at the knee’s. The band quickly shuffle back on stage, as the crowd scream the catchy refrain of ‘WE ARE YOUNG, WE ARE FAILURES AND WE LOVE IT’ from their anthem ‘Glockenspiel Song’ which they launch into, the crowd now putty in their hands. With one last final “thank you”, these modest young chaps finish up with what is set to be their next single ‘Teenage Daughter’, which starts off sounding like The Shins with its simplistic whistled melodies before exploding into a massive chorus; this is destining to be a big hit and a future anthem for these boys!
All in all a superb evening from one of the UK’s most promising acts. With the risk of sounding cheesy, Dog is very much alive and ready to take the UK by storm!
I joined the Silent Radio family near the very start of my move to Manchester in 2012 and I'm still having the best time! During my stay here I've been in two noisy bands, had a not so noisy solo project, made a zine, started a blog and started a radio show. It's been productive to say the least and it's all been intersperse with a shit load of gig going and beer drinking. I would love it if you followed me on twitter @dr_brainless for excitable tweets about playing, watching and living new music.
