REVIEWS
REVIEWS
'it's
great when you're...
yeah!
has been to quite a few Dum Dums gigs over the past couple
of weeks so, rather than write *proper* reviews our team of specially trained
experts (that's me, Will and Laurel Lollipops
by the way) have marked each gig on a scale of 1-10 in the following categories:
Crowd (as in what the crowd were like), Venue (as in what the venue was like),
Josh Comments (as in what Josh said), Ironic Rock Signs (as in did anyone do
rock signs in an ironic context) and Foxy Guys (This section is compiled by
Laurel who's an expert)
MILTON KEYNES REVOLVER 05.05.00
CROWD:
Milton Keynes is a scary place and everything looks the same (we were looking
for the car for an hour after the gig). The venue looked like a *trendy*
bar from the outside but it wasn't at all and they played 'The Pop Singer's Fear
of the Pollen Count'!
VENUE:
Everyone was soooooooooooo friendly. As soon as we got into the venue this guy
started showing us magic tricks and Will probably clinched the world record for
being chatted up by gay blokes!
JOSH
COMMENTS: Surprisingly quiet actually!
MOSH
INJURIES: None, which was no bad thing 'cause everyone was dancing and pogoing
in a nice way for a change!
IRONIC
ROCK SIGNS: None, but there was no point really!
FOXY GUYS: She probably won't want to talk about them but... 10/10
TOTAL: 46/60
mAIDSTONE, UNION BAR 06.05.00
VENUE: I've been there millions of
times and it's horrible, but they seemed to have painted the ladies toilets for
the first time, like, ever...Whether or not this was done in aid of the Dum Dums
though remains a matter of speculation!
CROWD: The union bar is normally
filled with an interesting mixture of Korn fans and 12 year olds. The Korn fans
had stayed at home. This was an improvement.
JOSH COMMENTS: 'This one goes out to
everyone going to 'Ikon' (club in Maidstone where everyone wears bright white
Reebok classics) later.' -Pure genius!!
MOSH INJURIES: Slightly bruised knee from the crowd barriers but that was 'cause I wasn't expecting it to be there! They never have barriers at the union bar...but then again they never have good bands at the union bar either! 3/10
IRONIC ROCK SIGNS: We made a couple at the metalers who were walking around town 3/10
FOXY GUYS: Not really! 3/10
TOTAL: 26/60
aldershot, big top 2000 12.05.00
VENUE:
Some Borough Council types had obviously decided to do something 'for
that kids' and thought a 'rock' festival was the way to do it. Predictably, the
tent was way too big...and some thoughtful person had decided to spit in the
corner.
CROWD: Rachel Stamp fans mainly so lots of PVC and devil horns which were hastily removed before climbing into Daddy's awaiting BMW. 4/10
JOSH COMMENTS: Interesting addition to 'Hole in Your Heart' in the form of Josh making heavy metal style roaring noises. 8/10
MOSH INJURIES: Some girl got very violent and pushed me over so I got to look hard the next day by telling everyone I was knocked over in the mosh pit at a Dum Dums gig. shame no-one believed me though! 5/10
IRONIC ROCK SIGNS: None as such (some serious ones were made when Rachel Stamp came on) but the aforementioned 'Josh comments' made up for that! 8/10
FOXY GUYS: Laurel wasn't at this gig
but even to the untrained eye, there was a distinct lack!
TOTAL 30/60
HASTINGS, CRYPT 13.05.00
VENUE: Very, very, very hot and the stage was positioned in the most stoopid place possible! 4/10
CROWD: Felt very sorry for them living in Hastings and that! 5/10
JOSH COMMENTS: He dedicated a song to me and Will so... 11/10
MOSH INJURIES: None, just got very hot. 3/10
FOXY GUYS: The Dum Dums really need to attract more males. 3/10
IRONIC ROCK SIGNS: Steve, we love you! 10/10
total 36/60
BEDFORD, ESQUIRES 18.05.00
VENUE: Big things at the front of the stage making the band seem miles away. 5/10
CROWD: Really liked 'Everything'. 7/10
JOSH COMMENTS: Very few, but he was loosing his voice. 3/10
MOSH INJURIES: Now't to do with moshing but my sides hurt from laughing so much (all will be revealed in the next Lollipops) 5/10
FOXY GUYS: See Hastings 3/10
IRONIC ROCK SIGNS: None. 0/10
total22 /60
Dum Dums, Rosita (YUK) and caffeine @ the garage, 13th April 2000
There were people outside The Garage from before six, but who can blame them as, sure enough Steve and Josh were there to chat, sign autographs and distribute kisses to the fans. This is not strange for the Dum Dums. They really seem to like their fans and not just on an ego boosting level either. They can often be found on their internet message board, thanking individuals for posting messages or going to gigs and it doesn't stop there. Rather than hiding backstage (granted, backstage at The Garage is about four foot square), Josh came out the front to watch Caffeine and ended up moshing with the fans and generally being completely 'normal' (I put this in inverted commas 'cause he was probably telling gullible fans about Stu's lack of pubic hair or something equally as odd).
That's the beauty of the Dum Dums really. They are real people (although it has been said that Steve looks like he's made out of plastic!) writing songs about stuff that effects real people. It's no wonder they're becoming so popular, they seem to have something for everyone, hence the presence of high cheek-boned media people, pop fans, indie fans, skaters, sparkly people and loads of others besides. What's more they've added a huge dose of humour to the traditional 'teenage-angst' guitar pop, meaning that the fans can relate, whilst taking a light hearted view of things at the same time.
Not surprisingly there was a huge air of excitement about this gig (their first proper London show since 'Everything' and children's TV appearances won them their strangely diverse fan base). In fact, the excitement was so strong that even the truly terrible Rosita couldn't dampen people's spirits!
It was evident from the start that the crowd were going to love the Dum Dums pretty much regardless. Everyone knew who they were, the lyrics to 'Everything' and, whether they admitted to it or not, had a favourite band member. Tonight, mine was Josh, who was on top form, informing the crowd that they, like L7 were going to auction off the drummer for sex! 'Cute' Stu was then made to stand on his drums whilst a few pre pubescent girls started to pool their pocket money! Mr. Doyle's unique brand of humour also led to his describing 'Hole in Your Heart' as being about sleeping with your dad and then revealing the 'world exclusive' (well, he seemed to think it was) that having sex can get girls pregnant!
You could almost hear the serious music journalists making scribbled notes about irony and flashing idiot boards (again), but the crowd laughed tirelessly, sung along to every chorus and pogo-ed as hard as they could. You get the feeling that this will be what the band judge the gig on. Not what the press say, but the fans' reaction. In fact, Josh is probably writing a long list of personal 'Thank Yous' to everyone who went as we speak!
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