Dutch Uncles - Live Music Review - The Fleece, Bristol
Posted on: 2017-03-13
Our rating:
Alternative indie pop band return with material from new album Big Balloon…
Returning to the Fleece for the first time since December 2015, Marple-based math-pop outfit Dutch Uncles emerged from a 2016 spent largely in the studio to embark on a UK tour performing tracks from their new album.
Kicking off with new song ‘Baskin’, their set included several from their latest collection, including ‘Same Plane Dream’, ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Hiccup’, and ‘Streetlight’. There was plenty of material from previous albums too though - ‘Cadenza’ and ‘Decided Knowledge’ sounded strong, while ‘Fester’ and (especially) their 2008 debut ‘Face In’ were real highlights.
New album title track ‘Big Balloon’ provided a stomping finish to the main part of the set, and was followed up with a three-song encore of ‘Overton’, ‘Flexxin’ and ‘Dressage’.
As with previous tours, the four-piece was bolstered by two to give them a heftier live sound, albeit with the same carefully constructed balance that ensures frontman Duncan Wallis’s distinctive falsetto remains up front and centre.
But it can’t be said that this was vintage Dutch Uncles. There were two song restarts - something I don’t remember ever seeing before in hundreds of past gigs - including a real outburst of frustration from Wallis when bringing the first attempt at ‘Streetlight’ to a halt.
They were entertaining as ever - Wallis’s trademark dance moves adding to the eccentricity of their unique brand of music - but there was something missing on this occasion. There’s every chance it was at least in part due to this Bristol date being their ninth straight show of the tour without a break, having kicked off in Edinburgh on 1 March and covered much of the UK over the intervening days.
Very strong support from Liverpool band Her’s and super-talented local innovators Cousin Kula ensured that the night could not be described as anything other than entertaining, but we know that the Uncles can and will have much better nights.
3/5
--Words and photos by Martin Allen--
Article by:
As a lifelong music obsessive, Martin brings his extensive journalism experience to bear on reviewing some of the many gigs that make Bristol's music scene one of the liveliest in the country. Originally from London, he spends his time following AFC Wimbledon, tormenting his children with Dad Jokes, and getting out to see as much live music, comedy and theatre as possible.
