Venue: Nottingham (Various)
Date: 26 May 2013
Dot to Dot Festival is an annual music festival held in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham over alternate days providing 14hrs of live music across various venues and all for £20!!
Arriving in Nottingham we had to walk through a load of cyclists who were taking part in the milk race. most of the city centre was closed off except for a few select crossing points, after trying to find our way out we just managed to make it through a crossing seconds before it was closed otherwise we would have been trapped and forced to miss the music!
Arrived to a buzzing rock city and swapped our tickets for wrist bands and it was off to the red room to see our first band of the day HAWKEYES!!
I have been a fan of Hawkeyes for a few years, in fact before they were called Hawkeyes and went under the alias of Chickenhawk I saw them support Pulled Apart by Horses at the Bodega.
They played a 30 minute set of riff heavy sounds and the song towards the end from the new ep sounds awesome!
After Hawkeyes had blown away the cobwebs we walked through the doors just as KAGOULE were starting their set.
I had never heard of them before but the singer looked like a very young Ian Mackaye from the greatest band ever Fugazi.
I thought they were ace sounded very Codeine Esq but with a heavier sound, loads of fuzz and distortion just what I like!
Next it was back through the doors into the red room for THE BOTS. I hadn't heard of these before but I guess this what these sort of festivals are good for discovering exciting new bands! When they came on stage they were a 2piece band, just drums and guitar and the drummer had the biggest Afro I have ever seen!
Found out later the drummer was only 16 and these kids were brothers and man they made a racket, part Bad Brains, part Black Keys, part Minutemen and they were ace!! since getting home I have already bought their back catalogue!
This is what they sound like!
After The Bots it was time for a wander around first stop Bodega, a band called the likely lads were just sound checking and from that sound check I could tell, it wasn't my thing but I guess this what days like this are all about if you don't like it... move on.
A large queue was forming to get inside Brew Dog to see Arse full of Chips, couldn't be bothered wait so it was back to Stealth just as Random Impulse was about to start
Now when a rap/rock crossover goes wrong it's really bad (see Limp Bizkit) but Random Impulse was alright catchy songs, with a good flow to them and a good listen.
Next up was Middle Class Rut, I first heard of them a few years ago with the song New Low which was pretty catchy but hadn't paid much attention to them since. Tonight however they were ace.
From this angle it looks like the most budget of drum kits possible!
Beer keg and a dustbin lid! They had a real drum kit hiding around the corner.
I'm not sure why the combination of Sun+Beer makes some blokes wanna rip off their shirts and take part in copious man hugs with each other but they were a few at the front for Middle Class Rut and one of them provided what was to be the funniest moment of the day when he decided somehow launch himself over the crush barrier at the front with nobody near him! when he didn't get up for a few moments hilarity turned briefly into concern, but when he got up it's funny again. As Mike Patton once said it's always funny until someone gets hurt and then it's just hilarious!
Middle Class Rut played an ace set of melodic hardcore and I will be looking them up again soon.
Next up was Black Books, now i was supposed to see them last week during the whole Flaming Lips cancellation fiasco.
However this would be the first I would have heard from them.
They were ok, I can see what Wayne Coyne sees in them.
After walking through to the rescue rooms Bears Den were just starting, not really my thing and a bit boring to say the least so it was time for a rest.
Next up was Sam Bradley, had to feel a bit sorry for him to be honest as the room was pretty empty, kinda odd to put a solo acoustic artist on at 10pm. If they had had an outdoor acoustic stage in the sunshine he would have gone down really well! some great story telling and some good songs.
Next up was M0, listened to a few tracks before and was pretty excited to see her live.
It was a nice change of pace and was kind of a mix between Lana del Ray and Grimes!
She also seemed as mad as a tree!
I first saw FINDLAY last year playing a free show with Deathrays of Ardilla. She may be small but can belt out a tune!
She sounded awesome and I can't wait till she gets an album done!
Now the main event Bo Ningen!
I first saw Bo Ningen last year in Derby and they literally blew my mind and reduced my IQ at the same time, they are without doubt one of the best live bands you will ever see! simply incredible
Being Japanese I haven't got a clue what they are singing about, but it doesn't matter, makes no difference what so ever when the bass kicks in on songs like Henkan it's just out of this world.
Bo Ningen where scheduled to play for 45 minutes after 20 they said thanks for coming we have 2 songs left! 25 minutes later they were still playing the last song was simply stunning, called Daikasiei that just goes into a psychedelic chaos for 15mins plus, amazing stuff.
I'm not sure any band can follow Bo Ningen you really have to see them.
Deap Vally were on next, I have seen them a few times before but was knackered and still had to drive home and nothing will beat Bo Ningen so it was time to go home.
Dot to Dot was ace, same time and place next year? I think so just get Bo Ningen to play again!
