Label: Atlantic Records
Genre: Indie-Pop
Members: Robert Milton (Vocals/Guitar), Joss Van Wilder (Keys), Daniel Harvey (Drums), Trev (Bass/Saxophone) and Paul Roberts (Guitar)
Based: Nottingham, UK
Sounds like: Bombay Bicycle Club, Noah and the Whale, Little Comets
Links: Website, Facebook
Standing in a sparsely populated hull of a ship is already an odd sensation. This is multiplied however when waiting to see a five-piece from Nottingham that operates under the name ‘Dog Is Dead’. Naturally with this kind of name one might expect a virile metal concoction to make your ears weep. Yet the noise that emerged was entirely different. I’d be lying if I said their sound wasn’t essentially poppy, with strong hooks and brazen melodies, but unlike much other cannon fodder around at the moment, they manage to dunk these tunes into a layer of simple synth and tasty harmonies you can sink your teeth into. Moreover, the versatility of this band meant they were able to produce a saxophone to delicately (and rather brashly at times) play alongside the riffs, giving them a slight edge in this indie dog-eat-dog world.
The consequence of these attributes is that despite a slightly lacklustre crowd they managed to not only get everyone moving to the likes of the anthemic Hands Down, but they also rather impressively produced a well-polished, confident sound that effortlessly pulsated through the maritime vessel. With the upcoming EP Two Devils on its way, this gig was also a chance for the young band to road test a few of their newer songs. Displaying an inherent knack for insanely catchy harmonies, the titular song off the EP went down a storm, evoking Bombay Bicycle Club and Noah and The Whale in the best way possible.
Check out their latest singles:
