Gig: Fat Dog @ Thekla, Bristol
Quirky post-punk bad Fat Dog may have only been around for a couple of years, however, their weird blend of Klezmer-inspired dance-punk has already been making waves.
The 400-capacity room at Bristol’s famed cargo ship nightclub is filled with an eclectic mix of ages, with a civilized crowd who wait patiently for the band to arrive. However, as soon as the lights change and the thundering drums build as the group takes their positions, all pretence of civility is thrown out the window. We are immediately thrown into a swirling mosh, which refuses to relent throughout the entire set. Fat Dog’s commanding energy is palpable as we are thrown into their chaotic class of electro-punk.
Fat Dog doesn’t take itself too seriously, and if appearance is anything to go by, this is immediately obvious. Lead vocalist Joe Love appears in his signature karate Gi and cowboy hat, flagged by keyboardist Chris Hughes in a German war uniform and drummer Johnny ‘Doghead’ Hutch in his rubber dog mask. With Morgan Wallace on saxophone and Jacqui Wheeler on bass bringing up the rear, this is certainly a motley crew.
Atmospheric opener ‘Vigilante’ tells us “We're all just dogs, gnashing our teeth at the moon”. This is followed up by ‘Boomtown’ which has the centre of the pit ducking down to ‘get crabby’ as directed by Love. Hughes demonstrates his wide stance crab walk across the stage to the remainder of the bewildered viewers. Explosive and magnificently silly first single ‘King of the Slugs’ kicks the crowd into full gear. This song's gradual ‘oompa’ Klezmer build has us completely entranced and is a testament to the commanding control of both Love and the band.
Lyricism ranges from eloquent and bold to downright brainless. What other band would be brazen enough to give us a song full of dark and meaningful religious themes one minute and describe sliding around covered in Vaseline like a slug the next? All soundtracked by the persistent booming of an electronic beat.
The only moment of stillness comes during the haunting ‘I am the King’ which sees Love enter the crowd, which, parted like the Red Sea, hangs on his every word as they clear the space for him to roam and greet fans at the edges of the circle. Love returns to the stage and the vigorous energy of the unruly crowd is immediately restored.
Fat Dog close with the epic ‘Running’, a track that has everyone jumping up and down and results in myself being completely soaked in a rogue beer, thrown across the crowd in the chaos. Returning for an encore, the group plays uninhibited new track ‘Skibidi’ (presumably inspired by the recent internet meme), before finishing with their cover of Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction”, a spirited end to a mighty set.
Selling out shows even before the release of their debut album, WOOF, in September, Fat Dog's WOOF. tour has firmly established them as a rising force in the music scene. With packed venues across the country and around the globe, the band’s rapid ascent has even necessitated adding extra dates to meet the surging demand from their ever-growing fan base. Their eccentric style and genre-defying sound have made this quirky quintet a standout, solidifying their reputation as a band to watch. Judging by their electrifying performances, Fat Dog has undoubtedly cemented their status as a must-see live act.
WOOF. by Fat Dog is out now via Domino Recordings and is available to stream on all your favourite platforms.
