DMAs at Alexandra Palace

Always nice to be able to walk to the venue (well if it isn't raining!) so I duly strolled up to Alexandra Palace from home in plenty of time, before doors opened, to get my place at the front. Duly accomplished it just left me to wait for my two guests, Pippa and Gowri. Have been to quite a few gigs with Pippa recently but haven't seen Gowri since lockdown. So nice to catch up as well as watch the gig.

Neither arrived in time to see the first support act, a Liverpool band called Rent. Not awful, but frankly the world doesn't need another bunch of scousers with a chip on their shoulders. The lead singer acted like he was on speed. 

Second support were also a Liverpudlian band, but one with much more depth and soul. By this time Gowri and Pippa had arrived and we were all impressed with this outfit - Night Cafe. Only catch is the lead singer's vocals were rather drowned. Sing up mate! Also of note the backing vocals came not from the guitarists as much as the drummer. Not easy to drum and sing at the same time.

And then the mighty DMAs. They are, like both my companions, Antipodean. They also give the impression (especially costume wise) of being the ultimate chav band. But their music is instead really intelligent and sophisticated. Great vocals too.

But what took the ladies by surprise was when a really vigorous mosh pit opened up just inside where we were standing. If you had only ever listened to them on their albums, they come across as a melodic, slightly trippy outfit. Live you get a much harder sound, driven by four energetic guitarists. And while my friends were expecting a thirty something audience of largely estranged Aussies, what they got was a very young and local audience. The band described London as their second home. It is certainly a source of support. Alexandra Palace is a big venue to fill. The band very much satisfied the active mosh pit that they inspired with a show heavy on their last album, The Glow, which is rather old hat now since it was issued (and the show scheduled) before lockdown.