REVIEW: GOAN DOGS AT BRISTOL CROFT (18/02/12)
We first caught Bristol’s Goan Dogs at their debut gig at The Croft about a year ago and here we are, back again for another set by the increasingly hyped five-piece…so what has changed.
Well, in that time, not only have they played a series of packed headline gigs across the city (including this here Dirty Windows launch), but they’ve also nailed some high profile support slots and been working hard on their debut album – with The Insects at Christchurch Studios. Perhaps more importantly, they’ve grown into their skin, honed their musicianship and come out the other side glowing with a hope that only bands of this ilk can ever truly have.
The G Dawgs (their nickname, not mine) promised they’d be upping their game with this show and up it they did. Where their earlier gigs had a tendency to be pretty sparse on the material front (there’s a limit to what finished songs new bands want to share with the world), this set introduced fans old and new to lesser known songs, such as Oh My God and The Right. Of course, they opened with the epic sounding Dog Fight before storming through their best known song and lyrical gem, Hold Me Back, hitting their stride with Dressing Gown, an intense Americana-tinged ballad.
Bill’s cool, suave bass playing acted as a right of stage anchor for Theo’s deep-in-thought guitar riffs; Luke’s relentless, Patrick Duff-esque vocals are complemented by Dan’s fierce and magnetising drumming, while stage left your eyes are drawn to multi-percussionist Sam, who has ditched his slightly bored expression for an earnest aloofness worthy of an established, world famous band. In a good way.
They end with 20 minutes from the border, which proves their credentials as a film-score style band. I’ve managed to make it to the end without mentioning the whole desert rock thing which has tended to go hand in hand with Goan Dogs, but no review would be complete without a sniff of that. A fine soft desert rock outfit indeed – like Calexico with a definite nod to QOTSA. Talking of desert rock and outfits, it should be noted that the fine looking fellas are all rocking the desert boots here.
Words: Laura Williams
Photo: Sarah Gray
