Devastating electro mayhem hits Bristol, and it's oh so so good...
Having burst onto the mainstream music scene at the beginning of the year, it came as a big surprise that this gig was nowhere near a sell out. In fact, tickets were still available on the door and the upstairs of the two-tiered Bristol Academy was shut. However, when it comes to atmosphere quality always rules over quantity, and the Bristol crowd possessed energy and raucousness in abundance, making for an electric excitement that swept through the venue.
As the band take to the stage (yes, they are actually a live band rather than DJs as many people seem to think), bassist and vocalist James Rushent hobbles on with the aid of crutches, with a huge blue cast in tow, the repercussions of a broken leg we’re told. James settles himself on an amp crate on wheels and, all night long, is scooting all over the stage whenever possible. Rather than pulling the gig, he makes the best of it, an admirable choice, fair play.
As the trio launch into the thumping intro to ‘Battle Royale’ the crowd erupts; bodies being strewn everywhere, drinks thrown aloft and the whole floor swaying to the dirty electro beats. This continues non-stop for the entire show, leaving the Academy a sweat-splattered cesspit, the way it should be. The band are on it, feeding off the energetic crowd and casting various insults towards the likes of X Factor and Simon Cowell in particular, all greeted with rapturous acclaim, before dropping into more synth-soaked downright dirtiness.
Set highlight by a country mile is the anthemic ‘Let’s Make Out’, with the crowd screaming back every line. Other favourites include a much heavier rendition of ‘Dawn of the Dead’, ‘Battle Royale’ for sheer sweat inducing mayhem, and classic ‘We Are Rockstars’.
However, here lies the unfortunate downside to Does It Offend You Yeah?... and through no fault of there own; they only have one album worth of material, resulting in a shorter set that they’re easily capable of. The show is over far too soon, like a tornado ripping through the Academy leaving a trail of sweaty mangled bodies in it’s wake, only to disappear into the night.
But, this doesn’t put a dampener on the show, it’s just this reviewer being greedy for more of the same. A tight, polished performance full of energy and bite, a very good night at the office indeed. Let’s hope next time around these chaps get the sell out they deserve and have enough material to dance the night away.