Dum Dum Girls
July 3, 2010
Detroit Bar
Two Holy Grail reverb pedals and a multi effect reverb/fuzz pedal sat in front of Dee Dee of the Dum Dum Girls. These pedals, combined with her vintage Silvertone guitar, recreated a jangly hollow guitar sound straight from the '60s. The slow shimmery guitar chords of the buzz band's cover of the Rolling Stones “Play With Fire” were augmented by a trio of vocal harmonies and a steady backbeat.
]
Waves of fuzz started to wash over the audience as
Sandra Vu pounded the drums for the swaying “Hey Sis,” while Bambi plucked away on her Danelectro bass. Dee Dee was all business,
quickly moving into “Catholicked” and only stopping to say give a
quick “thank you” to the crowd. The bouncy tunes somehow inspired a mosh
pit at Detroit Bar–an unwelcome surprise.
Sandra Vu pounded the drums for the swaying “Hey Sis,” while Bambi plucked away on her Danelectro bass. Dee Dee was all business,
quickly moving into “Catholicked” and only stopping to say give a
quick “thank you” to the crowd. The bouncy tunes somehow inspired a mosh
pit at Detroit Bar–an unwelcome surprise.
“I
Will Be” and “It Only Takes One Night” followed the same driving beat and
reverb soaked guitars, but Dee Dee's vocal performance made the songs
stand out with sense of urgency.
Will Be” and “It Only Takes One Night” followed the same driving beat and
reverb soaked guitars, but Dee Dee's vocal performance made the songs
stand out with sense of urgency.
The band's debut full length album
clocks in at 28 minutes, with each song at a two-and-a-half
minute average, so I wasn't expecting an hour and a half performance.
“Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burn Out” continued to stir the mosh pit as Jules cranked out chords on her Silvertone guitar that matched Dee
Dee's.
clocks in at 28 minutes, with each song at a two-and-a-half
minute average, so I wasn't expecting an hour and a half performance.
“Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burn Out” continued to stir the mosh pit as Jules cranked out chords on her Silvertone guitar that matched Dee
Dee's.
“Jail La La” brought forth images of
spending the night in jail while desperately hoping that someone needed
saving. Dee Dee dedicated “Everybody's Out” to Crocodiles before ending
the main set with a melancholy rendition of “Rest of Our Lives.” A brief
group hug celebrating the end of their two-week tour served as their
encore break, before taking on the GG Allin cover “Don't Talk To Me.” Normally, it's difficult to feel satisfied with a 35-minute set by
a headliner, but the Dum Dum Girls managed to pull it off.
spending the night in jail while desperately hoping that someone needed
saving. Dee Dee dedicated “Everybody's Out” to Crocodiles before ending
the main set with a melancholy rendition of “Rest of Our Lives.” A brief
group hug celebrating the end of their two-week tour served as their
encore break, before taking on the GG Allin cover “Don't Talk To Me.” Normally, it's difficult to feel satisfied with a 35-minute set by
a headliner, but the Dum Dum Girls managed to pull it off.
Crocodiles
played a perfect opening set–that is, if you managed to see them on stage.
Three tiny red lights were a nightmare from a photography standpoint, but
Crocodiles have come a long way from being a duo with a drum machine. A
bassist, drummer and keyboard player have considerably beefed up the
sound of Crocodiles, adding more sonic teeth to their attack.
Opening
with the hypnotic repetitive bass line of “Neon Jesus,” Brandon Welchez
was frantically flailing his arms and at points writhing on the ground
in between attacking his microphone. They closed the evening with a
killer version of “I Want To Kill.” Definitely look out for their new
album when it drops.
with the hypnotic repetitive bass line of “Neon Jesus,” Brandon Welchez
was frantically flailing his arms and at points writhing on the ground
in between attacking his microphone. They closed the evening with a
killer version of “I Want To Kill.” Definitely look out for their new
album when it drops.
[
Tomorrows Tulips were
familiar in that they are fronted by Alex Knost formerly of Japanese
Motors. With the assistance of Christina Kee on her dampened drums,
Knost dialed up the echo and fuzz for some surf inspired drone drenched
tunes. At the completion of his set, Knost was congratulated by two of
his former band members in Japanese Motors. Good to know everyone is
still friends.
familiar in that they are fronted by Alex Knost formerly of Japanese
Motors. With the assistance of Christina Kee on her dampened drums,
Knost dialed up the echo and fuzz for some surf inspired drone drenched
tunes. At the completion of his set, Knost was congratulated by two of
his former band members in Japanese Motors. Good to know everyone is
still friends.
Personal Bias: I have a
soft spot for fuzz and fishnets.
soft spot for fuzz and fishnets.
The Crowd:
It wasn't the usual Detroit Bar crowd–especially if you counted the creepy old
dude with the video camera that was aimed at Dee Dee all night.
It wasn't the usual Detroit Bar crowd–especially if you counted the creepy old
dude with the video camera that was aimed at Dee Dee all night.
Random
Notebook Dump: Although it was very early in the night, the DJ was
on Facebook and spinning tunes. Is this the future?
Notebook Dump: Although it was very early in the night, the DJ was
on Facebook and spinning tunes. Is this the future?
Setlist:
“Play
With Fire”
With Fire”
“Hey Sis”
“Catholicked”
“I
Will Be”
Will Be”
“It Only Takes One Night”
“Yours Alone”
“Bhang
Bhang, I'm A Burnout”
Bhang, I'm A Burnout”
“Jail La La”
“Everybody's
Out”
Out”
“Rest Of Our Lives”
Encore:
“Don't
Talk To Me”
Talk To Me”
