One half of Bastille, Dan Smith and Chris Wood, dropped into Dundee as part of their Independent Record Store tour and hosted by local vinyl emporium, Assai Records.
With only two band members the expectation was for a pared back sound, but with clever use of samples, loops and a full bands’ worth of kit the room was soon enveloped by their trademark electro-pop.
This was my first post pandemic gig and I wasn’t sure what to expect but apart from getting a mask at the door all seemed relatively normal. With restricted views and small stage, Fat Sams has never been an ideal venue but Assai have used it successfully for a few years and I’ve always enjoyed all the gigs I’ve been to there – it has a good feel.
The gig kicked off with a Pink Floyd style sample setting the ‘Techy’ theme for the night. The tech continued as Chris built the bones of Future Holds with loops of synths, bass and vocals. As the song and the crowd got into the groove the hoodies went up, Chris stomped on the volume pedal and we were off.
Next up was the melancholy Good Grief in a laid back acoustic style. From the first words the audience choir was singing along to Dan’s catchy lyrics and the song finished with a delighted cheer.
Dan’s amiable chat had the crowd giggling away and ready for the next tune which was the surely 80s synth band inspired, Distort the Lightbeam. The loops were back with the bass track driving the music along.
The band were keen to have the music available to their fans from around the world and their next song, the hazy 4am, was selected by fans in Russia, Holland and Dublin. This laid back song was like a gospel prayer, a homage to youth and friendship in the early hours. It worked so well with Dan’s smokey vocals which transcended into an edgy falsetto by the end. Not hard to hear why it was in in such demand.
Dan the introduced a dreamy acoustic guitar version of Power which he described as a lost song. Originally on Wild World, I’m sure it will re-emerge as a standard in their set.
While waiting in the queue the audience were asked to share their dreams. Dan shared an ‘interesting’ dream in which he riffed on donuts and MPs. The band’s task was to integrate it into Give Me the Future. This turned into a never to be repeated swear fest with the dreams woven into this bass heavy cracker whose climax shook Christmas decorations from two years ago out of the lighting rig!
The knocked back tune with a piano at its heart, No Bad Days, was truly stunning. The pared back sound put Dan’s vocals centre stage and the powerful chorus was like a prayer to your last days. Another take home moment.
The first notes of Pompeii saw a see of phone screens rise from the audience, eager to capture one of the boys best known songs, star of stage, screen and Glee saw the crowd in great voice. Ayo Ayo!
We were getting near the end and the band’s new single was brought out as a new star turn. Shut Off the Lights. In a last nod to tech, Gary went into MC mode to record us belting out the chorus Shut Off the Lights’ We Don’t Need Them to Dance onto a loop. This new track is bound to be a favourite with its Paul Simon Graceland vibe. Dan is a real wordsmith and one of the drawbacks of the slightly muddy sound was difficulty in hearing his lyrics which in this song are particularly poignant. ‘Got my heart in your hands and your hands on my chest and my chest is a breath, it’s the breath that you take away.
So, for a first night out after two years of Covid this was great, the band seemed pleased with their night and the crowd filed out into a freezing Dundee night and I’m looking forward to my next gig!
Words: Graeme White