Gig Review: Basement + Dinosaur Pile Up

Adrenaline filled, signed treasures in hand and happily sweat soaked; I left the much awaited Basement and Dinosaur Pile Up gig buzzing and with slight hints of tinnitus. This was definitely not a gig for the faint hearted. It was a gig with manic momentum and reverb edged songs.

A great match for a tour together, both Dinosaur Pile Up and Basement have slightly different complementary sounds but each draw a similar crowd. With Dino producing a darker grunge style compared to Basement's nod to early pop punk. The Globe in Cardiff was the perfect intimate venue for this union; tucked away on Albany Road with wooden finishes, musky scent and a grand balcony overlooking the ideally sized crowd space; there's a reason it's my favourite venue! So, with Jord and Beckie, in an excellent venue and with a whole heap of anticipation we were 'gig ready.'

First up was the support. I personally love finding new bands through unknown support acts and The Sun Days were no exception. All the way from Sweden, they were a slick female fronted indie band well suited to warm up the crowd. Their happy-go-lucky sound is similar to Alvvays and Honey Blood and was equally mirrored in their friendly persona as we chatted to them after the gig. A fun yet gentle way to start the night as the crowd began to knit together ready for vibrating floors and the imminent bruises to come.

Dinosaur Pile Up humbly sauntered on and were everything I had hoped for. Stood front and central, mere feet away from Matt Bigland and his swishy hair, I eagerly watched the three piece settle into an explosive set of previous hits and tracks from their newest album 11:11. The initial hit of the piercing drum line in the opening song Red and Purple sparked the

quintessential Dino thud of angst filled fuzz. It never ceases to amaze me the sheer volume this three piece makes, and seeing them live has dazzled me further. Their live sound breaks possibilities to be even fuller, whilst maintaining a clear melodic line and polished sections. Singing along to every song in a pulsating crowd was an immense feeling, plus, watching the band thrive when tearing through the set was a great sight. Amongst a friendly crowd and heart racing, pogoing to the Dino anthem Nature Nurture was an awesome moment and the band's intricate timing and clever live tricks gave them a polished yet maverick sound. Dinosaur Pile Up crashed to the end of their set with the phenomenal 11:11, complete with a berserk and adoring crowd. After the gig DPU mixed with their fans, signing everything and chatting away like we were all good friends. Dino seemed to have a community based ethos and very little ego which I loved! I got my set list signed and chatted away to Matt and Mickey happily. A lovely bunch of guys with a wicked sound - I only wish they could have played for longer!

I wasn't quite prepared for the wall of sound which came out of Basement's amps, nor the surge of fans eager to be at Andrew Fisher's feet; but nonetheless I revelled in the erratic atmosphere. Admittedly, I was less of a fan of Basement than of DPU, but that hardly crossed my mind. Basement put on a wild show. Their energy seeped off the stage and was lapped up by one of the most dynamic crowds I've ever seen. Straight from the off, there were pits of uninhibited people soaking up Basement's full bodied sound. A band of experience, Basement had charismatic finesse and a well balanced set which they powered through. Their melodic guitar and vocal lines merged with heavier undertones in a semi hardcore style which the crowd adored. Basement's ballsy stage presence was mimicked by the crowd, and with little to no security, there were stage dives left, right and centre in a frenzy of keen moshers. A personal first for me, I stage dived twice into the packed crowed and got hooked on the free fall feeling. Although, with limbs flying everywhere, we did witness some misjudged dives and painful landings; gravity is a bitch sometimes.

So, if you're going to the Basement and Dino tour you really are in for a treat! Given the chance to go again I would whack my makeshift Dino t-shirt on in a heart beat! And for those going to Reading, you can catch Basement at the NME stage on Sunday, I know I will.

Laura

Now here's the much awaited shoddy quality of gig photos...