WORDS AND IMAGES DESH KAPUR
Aussie three-piece, indie kings the DMA’S composed of Tommy O’Dell, Matt Mason, and Johnny Took were playing a sold-out Manchester O2 Apollo tonight, in support of their fourth studio album ‘How Many Dreams?’ which had peaked at number 3 in the UK album charts and number 2 in the Australian album charts
But before the DMAS there were four-piece indie rock band Tribes, from Camden Town, to contend with. Tribes are Johnny Lloyd (vocals and guitar), Dan White (guitar) and Jim Cratchley (bass) and Miguel Demelo (drums).
Tribes have a tight crisp rock thing going on with nods to American bands like Nirvana, and Everclear but maybe with the Britishness of Biffy Clyro. They have energy and personality that shines when they play live, they are very tight and have some very catchy indie rock anthems, but for me musically I felt it was nothing that new, it was enjoyable and the crowd seemed to get into it, and I’m sure they have made a lot of new friends, so for a support band its job done I guess.
This is most likely the 4-5th time I have covered the DMA’S and tonight was the best I have seen them, the intimate size of the Apollo seems to make a difference. There was a connection between the band and the audience that you could almost touch, it was so electric.
The venue was packed, and the crowd were fully amped for the arrival of their heroes. Chants of DMA’S rang around the room. The band walked onto the stage and the venue erupted.
The DMAS are the jewel in the crown of Australian indie pop right now. Three lads from Sydney, Australia, playing, if I had to pigeonhole it, Oasis-inspired Britpop with shades of The La’s, The Stone Roses, and The Charlatans. But they are so much more than that. they do it with their own style and swagger.
Right from the very first song, the crowd sang along. It’s hard to pick any particular song that stood out because they are all great tunes. The band played tracks from all their releases, “Hills End”, “For Now”, “The Glow” and the post-pandemic EP release “I Love You Unconditionally, Sure I Am Going to Miss You”. But the set as you would expect is predominantly made up of tracks from their latest release.
Right from the first chords of “How Many Dreams”, the indie bangers came one after another, “Olympia”, and “The Glow”. and “Timeless” are all brilliant and the whole of the Apollo is rocking,
“Silver” follows, my favourite track of theirs and by the way the crowd in here tonight reacted the favourite of many many people gathered here, it does make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when Tommy lowers the mic and lets the whole of the Apollo sing the song back to him, “Silver” is such a delicately beautiful song one of the best songs written in the last ten years”. It swoops and dips with the most beautiful melodies and harmonies. Tom Odell’s voice shines and the lyrics are so moving and tender.
“Something We Are”, “Overcoming” and “Tape Deck Sick” follow and the whole venue is bouncing what the band lack in audience interaction, is made up with an amazing performance and the true beauty of Tom’s voice. He was immaculate tonight. I could listen to him sing all day. Throw in the brilliantly fractured vulnerability of their breakthrough record “Delete”, and it was a another night to remember.
As the band played through thier set of anthemic indie pop gems, it was amazing to watch a crowd from the balcony, with phone lights raised, on each other’s shoulders, singing along word for word, bringing back memories of scenes past, and anticipation of what these three chaps could go on to achieve. Lead singer Tommy O’Dell’s voice filled the room, accompanied by Matt Mason and Johnny Took on lead guitar and acoustic guitar and the night was over in a flash.
So, until the next time lads, cheers!!!!!
SET LIST
1/ HOW MANY DREAMS
2/ OLYMPIA
3/ THE GLOW
4/ TIMELESS
5/ SILVER
6/ SOMETHING WE ARE OVERCOMING
7/ TAPE DECK SICK
8/ FADING LIKE A PICTURE
9/ HELLO GIRLFRIEND
10/ FOREVER
11/ DELETE
12/ PLAY IT OUT
13/ LAY DOWN ENCORE
14/ BLOWN AWAY
15/ LACED
16/ FEELS LIKE 37
17/ EVERBODY’S SAYING THURSDAY’S THE WEEKEND
FOLLOW DMA’S
FOLLOW TRIBES
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
