Dum Dum Girls Live at the Echo, Los Angeles
Having waxed lyrical about the Dum Dum Girls; metaphorically worn out all of their records (including ** album of the year contender ** "Too True" which has been embedded in my brain ever since NPR offered a stream to us interweb savvy hipsters over a week ago); dreamt of quiet evenings together - just Dee Dee and I - the two of us critiquing each other's record collections (hers was undeniably superior); here finally was the chance to catch her and the band live - for the launch of their new album - and "in the flesh" - as a certain Ms. Deborah Harry was once moved to say.
How could I refuse?
So first trip to the Echo (and by the end of the weekend I’ll have been three times – with Northern Ireland’s alternative-rocking, guitar thrashing Ash and the wonderous - and last year’s album of the year contender - (Miss) Frankie Rose making up a gigtastic few days…)
To be honest I suspect my house is bigger than the Echo. Even the much missed Great Northern on the corner of Cambridge's Station Road was a damn sight bloody bigger than this (it’s easier to crowd surf to the bar than fight through the heaving throng)...
Still a tiny venue packed to the rafters ensures that an intimate and sweaty time will be had by all...
Especially when we are going to be in the presence of a living rock goddess…
With the Echo filling nicely, first up were local trio Roses (check out their SoundCloud page) - a band whom I know absolutely nothing about (but according to those in the know, guitarist Juan Velazquez is also a member of LA band Abe Vigoda) - who packed a set full of memorable eighties-inspired tunes - all reverbed guitar, swirling keyboards and punchy bass - helped by the fact that the mixing desk had the sound just right. I just love guitar-driven bands like this and one I'll definitely check out again.
Next up were Dreamboys, jangly guitars, catchy tunes, great melodies and spot-on harmonies. Unfortunately from my vantage point, the vocals were mixed a little far back, but retrospectively listening to their eponymous album, it's a tour-de-force of laid-back indie pop. Apparently they're supporting Frankie Rose - so another one I'm looking forward to hearing again (just have a word with the guy at the desk this time....)
Honestly, this was turning into the kind of fun evening that I used to have back in the days of my "yoof", at the type of venue where the band has to fight their way through the crowd to get to the stage. As the clock ticked around to eleven - and seriously, time flew - it was hanging from the rafters time as the Echo was by now seriously heaving.
How could I refuse?
So first trip to the Echo (and by the end of the weekend I’ll have been three times – with Northern Ireland’s alternative-rocking, guitar thrashing Ash and the wonderous - and last year’s album of the year contender - (Miss) Frankie Rose making up a gigtastic few days…)
To be honest I suspect my house is bigger than the Echo. Even the much missed Great Northern on the corner of Cambridge's Station Road was a damn sight bloody bigger than this (it’s easier to crowd surf to the bar than fight through the heaving throng)...
Still a tiny venue packed to the rafters ensures that an intimate and sweaty time will be had by all...
Especially when we are going to be in the presence of a living rock goddess…
With the Echo filling nicely, first up were local trio Roses (check out their SoundCloud page) - a band whom I know absolutely nothing about (but according to those in the know, guitarist Juan Velazquez is also a member of LA band Abe Vigoda) - who packed a set full of memorable eighties-inspired tunes - all reverbed guitar, swirling keyboards and punchy bass - helped by the fact that the mixing desk had the sound just right. I just love guitar-driven bands like this and one I'll definitely check out again.
Next up were Dreamboys, jangly guitars, catchy tunes, great melodies and spot-on harmonies. Unfortunately from my vantage point, the vocals were mixed a little far back, but retrospectively listening to their eponymous album, it's a tour-de-force of laid-back indie pop. Apparently they're supporting Frankie Rose - so another one I'm looking forward to hearing again (just have a word with the guy at the desk this time....)
Honestly, this was turning into the kind of fun evening that I used to have back in the days of my "yoof", at the type of venue where the band has to fight their way through the crowd to get to the stage. As the clock ticked around to eleven - and seriously, time flew - it was hanging from the rafters time as the Echo was by now seriously heaving.
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| Dum Dum Girls at Echo |
And with that Dee Dee and the band took the stage (and joined by mystery man Andrew Miller - as a knowledgeable punter pointed out to me)... With a brief introduction, "This is where it all began", Dum Dum Girls ripped into "Bedroom Eyes" - Dee Dee front and centre - flanked by guitarist Jules Medeiros and bassist Malia James - but what immediately struck me was that for a pint-size Sandra Vu sure as hell can pound nine-shades of shit out of a drum kit, literally pounding the song onwards (mental note - must catch her own band Sisu), before they launched into "I Got Nothing" from "End of Daze" - which, from a musical timeline perspective, forms the perfect bridge to "Too True".
"In The Wake of You" is the first track off of the new album to get an airing - and it's immediately obvious how rich the songs from the album sound compared to the earlier albums. Kudos to Medeiros’ sweet melodies which were everywhere to be heard. The long-suffering Mrs Blog picks up on this point - if you listen to the Dum Dum Girls' chronologically you can detect the subtle shifts in tone, style and texture - in a frighteningly fast-paced set like tonight it becomes obvious as how much the band have changed in four short-years...
Dee Dee announces that they're going to play about half the new album tonight and hopes that this is going to meet with our approval - Hell yes - is the response in the affirmative! Indeed, the new songs sound great live - the added depth and complexity of the numbers really allowing the band to shine.
"In The Wake of You" is the first track off of the new album to get an airing - and it's immediately obvious how rich the songs from the album sound compared to the earlier albums. Kudos to Medeiros’ sweet melodies which were everywhere to be heard. The long-suffering Mrs Blog picks up on this point - if you listen to the Dum Dum Girls' chronologically you can detect the subtle shifts in tone, style and texture - in a frighteningly fast-paced set like tonight it becomes obvious as how much the band have changed in four short-years...
Dee Dee announces that they're going to play about half the new album tonight and hopes that this is going to meet with our approval - Hell yes - is the response in the affirmative! Indeed, the new songs sound great live - the added depth and complexity of the numbers really allowing the band to shine.
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| Dee Dee Penny |
This was a belter of a set - apart from the occasional tune-up between
numbers - the songs seeming to transition one into another with the band
effortlessly handling the change of tempo... Thus, the guitar-fuelled fuzz of
"He Gets Me High" is immediately followed by my favourite track from the
new album, the balladesque "Are You OK?" Live, this song sounds even
better than on the album - Dee Dee's vocals offering just the right tone
of fragility over haunting guitars.
And it
was the ability to really project the songs live that stood out. The
inherent raw energy of both "Rimbaud Eyes" and "Lost Boys and Girls
Club" were captured here - Jules' guitar melody all over the former, while Malia's
bass really hit the groove on the latter...
And
then it was over - closing the set with a cover of Pale Saint's "Sight
of You" (I'm indebted to whoever posted the band's setlist
on setlist.fm - I was enjoying myself far too much to make a mental
note) - and an all to brief encore of "Mine Tonight" and "Lord Knows."
This was a fantastic killer show from a band who were so tight, packed so much energy and left us all exhausted yet desperately wanting more. This is a band who will really be going places - packing out far larger venues... As it was I've been fortunate enough to catch them in an intimate hole-in-the-wall and for a few brief moments been transported back 30 years to when music seemed to really matter...
This was a fantastic killer show from a band who were so tight, packed so much energy and left us all exhausted yet desperately wanting more. This is a band who will really be going places - packing out far larger venues... As it was I've been fortunate enough to catch them in an intimate hole-in-the-wall and for a few brief moments been transported back 30 years to when music seemed to really matter...
It's 48 hours later and I still can't wipe the grin off of my face... As my all-time favourite band once sang, the night was "Everything and More"... Thanks Dee Dee, Jules, Malia, Sandra and Andrew... Let's do this again!
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