DILLY DALLY / WEAVES | LIVE REVIEW
The Globe, Cardiff, Tue 20 Sept
There’s a small crowd gathering tonight at Cardiff’s Globe, waiting eagerly for the Welsh debut show of Toronto band Dilly Dally. Fresh off the release of their first album, 2015’s Sore, the band set off on a tour earlier this year, but tonight they return to the UK and play in Wales for the first time.
Opening act Weaves get a good response to their lively brand of upbeat indie, with plenty of slide guitar noodling and a generally fun vibe. By the time they play single Tick, it’s clear they’ve won over the crowd, with vocalist Jasmyn Burke going into the audience to talk to some fans after the set.
By the time Dilly Dally arrive on stage, the crowd has grown a bit larger. The band start things off with quite a mellow rendition of EP single Candy Mountain, before kicking into the more energetic Ballin’ Chain off the debut. Their music brings together a mix of influences, with tracks like Snake Head showing the band seamlessly blend pop sensibilities with the angst of grunge and the aggression of punk. It’s no surprise, then, that the crowd is a mix of people, from blue-haired teens in Nirvana T-shirts to older, indie-looking fellows with beards. The mix of influences bridges the gap between older and younger fans, and despite having just over an album’s worth of material there’s plenty of highlights in tonight’s set.
After a few songs a crowd starts to gather at the front and start dancing around, just in time for an excellent rendition of Purple Rage, one of their main singles. The lyrics, which address vocalist Katie Monks leaving her old life behind and reinventing herself seem all the more appropriate for a debut gig in a new city.
It’s evident the Globe wasn’t expecting a big turnout tonight: the upstairs section was closed off and there were still tables and chairs in front of the stage, giving the feeling of seeing a local band in a pub. But this shouldn’t be a surprise for such a new band who are still building an audience. It may have the feeling of a local band playing for a small crowd of devotees, but judging by the response of those present, it won’t be too long before they get a much bigger turnout. By the time they play standout track Desire, it’s clear they can transcend the small venue and play a show worthy of a sell-out crowd.
words MATT LEE