Early in their set, Dinosaur Pile-Up play “Peninsula”. A track from their second album, it nonetheless seems to wrap up tonight in a neat bow.
“Be what you want
Say what you feel
Do what you please”
That’s more than a chorus. It’s their DNA.
Earlier in the evening, The Xcerts singer Murray McLeod had joked that the two bands had bonded backstage over the thought that “keeping the bands going had been either a triumph or stupidity.”
And if both bands have been through the wringer over the years, at least the Aberdonians can say they played Wembley Arena in the spring.
You can see why You Me At Six chose them. They are superbly energetic, and my goodness, the songs are anthemic.
They inevitably draw comparisons with Biffy Clyro (a fact McLeod himself jokes about), but songs like “Live Like This” also carry shades of Deaf Havana.
Scrappy, punky, and with an outsider feel, tracks like “Kids On Drugs” and “Shaking In The Water” sound huge, like they belong on bigger stages.
Oddly though, it’s their closer “Feels Like Falling In Love” that arguably hits hardest. McLeod ditches his guitar to get up close and personal with the front row, and the punk, wild side suits them.
Yes, it was worth persevering with the band, chaps.
You can’t fail to notice it. It’s as clear as day.
Birmingham’s XOYO – packed to the rafters, and I mean literally – loves Dinosaur Pile-Up.
They emerge after the Beastie Boys to play “‘Bout To Lose It”, and the front rows scream every word back at them.
The record it comes from has been out just two weeks.
DPU must feel like rock’s longest-serving overnight sensation (there’s no time here to list all their tribulations). They’ve been at it since 2010, and tonight they’re eager to mine every corner of their catalogue.
That means “Stupid Heavy Metal Broken Hearted Loser Punk” from the brilliant “Celebrity Mansions”, and a dive back to the early days for “My Rock N Roll”. But being the first night of a tour in support of their new album, much of the spotlight is on “I’ve Felt Better”.
Its title track and “Sick Of Being Down” slot in superbly, but it’s when frontman Matt Bigland ditches his guitar that things become raw and emotional. “Love’s The Worst” and “I Don’t Love Nothing And Nothing Loves Me” delve deep into his well-documented struggles with mental health, but then “My Way” closes that chapter with hope.
There’s a mishap when drummer Mike Sheils breaks his snare, and a misstep with a cover of “Tricky” (my lifelong dislike of rock bands covering pop songs remains unshaken). But when Bigland straps his guitar back on for “11:11”, it ensures a raucous finish. And MV will accept we were the only ones not buying into the RUN DMC bit.
The encore is thunderous. “Thrash Metal Cassette” snarls with punk sneer before the big two arrive. The crowd had been barking for “Big Dogs” all night (they eat for free, apparently), and “Back Foot” is genuinely mighty.
And as they roar these words:
“I’m gonna go ahead and tell you what
I’m gonna do exactly whatever the fuck I want.
I’m gonna keep on doing it ‘til I get to the top.”
You can’t help but admire them. Because that’s what they’re doing, and that’s what they’ve done.
It’s been almost six years since MV last saw Dinosaur Pile-Up (and not far off that since they’ve been anywhere), but the truth is: they haven’t changed a bit.
