By Amélie Peters, Music Sub-Editor
Fat Dog back again and so soon! - no complaints here. Just over two months since their last visit, the holy grail of bands returns to Bristol, bringing their electronic zealous with them.
Ready to hypnotise a crowd with their majesty of performance, the crowd is filled with Fat Dog veterans. A sold out SWX filled with only the most fanatical, awaiting the dancing crab and circles of running.
Once more displaying the majesty of their 2024 album 'woof', the crowd collide to the familiar sounds. Pushing out singles like the mother of the octuplets, Fat dog released most of 'Woof' as singles so it will come as no Suprise that every man woman and child in the audience knowing every lyric, every intonation of synth and bouncing riff.
'It was the light at the beginning of time' - Vigilante, like a maniacal overlord Joe Love looks down upon the crowd and there begins the set.
King of the Slugs, dirty beaten lyrics with an impossible tempo that argues something strange. The song encourages revels and displays of worship to the slimy creatures of Joe Loves's nighttime love affairs.
In the same vein as peace song, there latest song 'call me if you want brat psy', has a slightly more melodic tone. With all the features of a fat dog song, heavy synth, Joe love screaming into the mic and a bucket load of drum the song is very much their cup of tea.
However, the distortion from the mic leaves me unable to comment on lyrics, because I just couldn't hear them. Enjoyably thrashy and very much a song you can mosh to, however without knowing the lyrics it seems to fall a little bit flat and seems a bit rushed. I'm aware this falls into the cliche category of 'there old stuff is the best', but in their repertoire of brilliance I wouldn't pick this one to add to my playlist.
'F*ck yourself', when finally, this song is released best believe I have a list of people I'm going to be sending this to. Apart from the obvious genius of the name, the song is frenetic, brilliant, the injection of violin and the new edge to the music is something to be inspired by.
Lyrically there's something and unbelievably given the name, rawer and slightly more about it. That is not to say the song is slow, far from it. The song feels like an out-of-control circus spiralling faster and faster out of control. I predict this is going become a fan favourite.
'F*ck yourself', seems to suggest a new musical direction for the band, an elevation and development that is lovely to see.
The injection of new songs is a welcome change for the fans, who greedily awaited the release of the Album only to discover they had heard most of it already through the release of singles. Whilst not on the shoulders of the band this decision was a strange one from the management team.
The gig as ever was deliciously chaotic and joyously sweaty, however the usual energy from the band was not there. In the lead up to the gig, social media teased us with the band's silly costumes and mischievous antics, but when they got to Bristol ... nothing.
Usually dressed to the nines, Chris Hughes usual charmingly off kilter outfit was replaced by t-shirt and jeans. Joe Love usually dressed like a Texan overlord donned the same attire as his fellow band, leaving the fans to wonder if the touring is becoming taxing on the band.
I found myself again and again over the past few months checking the line-up of various festivals to see if my favourite bands are included. Dotted about the different festivals my favourite bands are scattered, but not Fatdog. Fatdog it seems are playing every festival to ever exist, it my nan started a festival in her back garden, I'm pretty sure fatdog would be there.
Whilst I am in no way complaining, the more slugs for me the better. One must wonder if this is sustainable, how much longer have Fatdog got?
Featured Image: Jason BryantWhat do you think of the new music?
