WORDS AND IMAGES BY JOE SENIOR
‘A Refreshing Throwback To Simpler Music’
Their first show together for 14 years but not a hint of rust, 75% of the original line up were back together last night to mark the remarkably long amount of time that’s past since their 2006 debut album Waterloo to Anywhere.
Ably supported by Dead Freight and Ramona Flowers, Dirty Pretty Things reminded us of the simple joy of naughties indie music. 2 guitars, bass and drums. Verse, chorus, bridge. No spoken word post-punk irony or flirtations with techno here this is music from a simpler time
This isn’t a ‘modern music is rubbish’ take. There’s a seemingly bottomless pit of music that doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before right now, and it’s all so, so accessible. Just like Deliveroo, there’s always something new and interesting and exotic available at the tap of a button or two, but nothing hits quite like a cheeseburger from a burger van does it? That’s what Carl Barat and co brought to the Electric Ballroom, it really hit the spot.
Despite the long hiatus, the band didn’t miss a beat. Though the reunion show brought out the hardcore fans no one was grumbling as they largely stuck to their first album. Deadwood and Doctors & Dealers still have the same simple energy they did before with You Fucking Know It coming mid way through the set and lighting the crowd up.
Naturally finishing with Bang, Bang Your Dead everyone leaves thinking the same two things – ‘well that was great’ and ‘why don’t people make music like this any more’. This reviewers eyes are peeled for a naughties indie revival, it could be just the thing we need to make sense of these strange times we live in.
SET LIST
1/ DEADWOOD
2/ DOCTORS AND DEALERS
3/ BLOOD THIRSTY BASTARDS
4/ THE GENTRY COVE
5/ WONDERING
6/ THE ENEMY
7/ YOU FUCKING LOVE IT
8/ LAST OF THE SMALL TOWN PLAYBOYS
9/ BURMA 10/ GIN AND MILK
11/ COME CLOSER
12/ TRUTH BEGINS
13/ TIRED OF ENGLAND
14/ BANG BANG YOUR DEAD
FOLLOW DIRTY PRETTY THINGS
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
