Dot to Dot Nottingham 2010 saw me fighting my way out of violent moshpits, battling to get any straight answer at all out of my interview with 80s Matchbox B Line Disaster and finding the intense dad-dancing outside the Rescue Rooms from about 10pm onwards pretty hilarious. Here’s my run-down of the day, video interview links to follow…

Nottingham act Frontiers kicked off proceedings in the Rock City main hall with their dark lighting, angular guitars and heavy drums. It’s a noteworthy start but after a while I head on over to the Rescue Rooms and catch Swiines, who deserve a mention on the strength of their name alone. Shoegazing, floppy fringes and some catchy fretwork all combined to throw us well back to the late 80s/early 90s baggy era. Over in Stealth this vibe continues with Sunday Girl and her brand of guitar-led pop.

I then made a break for my interviews with those pesky psychobilly punks 80’s Matchbox, rising sixteen-year-old rock/pop starlet Daisy Dares You and very well-mannered fops Wolf Gang. Sadly I was told that Liars would find it “too complicated” to walk around a corner to find our interview location, so that one was scrapped. Wolf Gang mentioned a few acts to catch at this year’s Dot to Dot fest, and I was blessed with the luck of the Gods as the timing of my last interview coincided with the start of one of their sets. The band that Wolf Gang had singled out for praise was Islet. Yes, I had no idea who they were either. But the mental noise emerging from outside the Nottingham Trent upstairs bar made me rush to witness what the hell was going on inside.

Cardiff no-wave band Islet are immense with an utterly unhinged presence

And I’m bloody glad I did. Cardiff band Islet are immense, with thundering drums, an utterly unhinged presence and pure, unadulterated chaos ensuing. Not since the Cutting Pink With Knives set a few years ago had we witnessed constant in-crowd performances with most of the four members each diving off the stage at various points. They all also take turns at guitar, drums, and bass so are pretty much multi-instrumentalists, which I’ve not seen any act demonstrate in a live capacity – ever. Being no-wave and slightly arty-farty, their lyrics aren’t much to write home about (I think at one point the main vocalist was droning on about going somewhere), but their entire performance was ball-breaking nonetheless.

My attempts at googling band members names have proved futile as it seems that this lot have deliberately shunned promoting themselves (no MySpace, barely a website and a fan site two inspired devotees have set up for them), preferring instead to let the performance do the talking for them. Their set sees them all pounding drums, yelling in primal catcalls (to which crowd members also decide to contribute), running into the crowd with guitars and drumkits to play in the midst of a stunned crowd, but all the while managing to perform their stop-start wall of noise with breathtaking fluidity. If I could be in any band, it would be Islet. Make sure you see them live if you ever have the chance – they’re our killer act for Dot to Dot 2010.

Liars still sound flawless, with their searing, warped guitars and brilliant atmospherics

No other act I see comes close to topping this level of awesomeness. I wander down to the Trent main room to catch Liars, who seem to be having the longest soundcheck in Dot to Dot history. Maybe their record label was right about them finding it tricky to walk around a corner – at this rate, they’ll be lucky to find their way through a performance. When they start though, their searing, warped guitars and brilliant atmospherics still sound flawless, luckily for them. Angus Andrew looks very much like a bearded Nick Cave as he stalks the stage like a visceral maniac, screaming into his mic. He still finds time to cuss Russell Crowe’s performance in Robin Hood though. Good man.

I head on over to catch Manchester upstarts Twisted Wheel and, anticipating madness in the mosh, stake my place at the front of the Rescue Rooms early. Big shout out to the bouncers at the front for giving me a much-needed laugh. Boozy chants of “Weee-el, wheee-el” dominate the airspace and things go off like a firebomb when the trio finally emerge and launch into She’s A Weapon. The atmosphere goes wild and the mosh gets so frenzied that after a while I leave and go to the back. I’d kinda prefer to leave this fest with my head still intact. Nevertheless, Twisted Wheel definitely have fire in their punk rock bellies and the hype around them is probably deserved.

Daisy Dares You: You will know this girl by the trail of hits

I get back to the Trent upstairs bar to catch Daisy Dares You and see the young Miss Coburn being accosted for photos with fans during the soundcheck. Her popularity is clearly deserved as the set is so full-on with guitars, drums and keyboards that when it starts that there’s some feedback. Looking very much like a young Courtney Love in a thigh-length grungey vest and slaying her way through a guitar riff, it’s hard to believe that this girl is still only 16. The energy on stage is impressive and packs a punch: you will know this girl by the trail of hits.

It’s no surprise to learn I chose to see the headline set from the 80s Matchbox B Line Disaster, having seen both Mystery Jets and Ellie Goulding before and wanting to end the day with a bit more edge. In the dark, eery midst of the Rock City basement, the place is packed, and I mean packed. I literally have to fight my way to the other side of the crowd so I can see and even then I feel like a sardine. But this is nothing compared to how crazy the action gets when the band finally appear.

Manic, unforgiving tussling sessions ensue between crowdsurfers and enraged bouncers

There’s nothing less than complete anarchy and mayhem as the “No crowd surfing” signs are totally ignored and manic, unforgiving tussling sessions ensue between crowdsurfers and enraged bouncers. It’s hilarious! And pretty violent, it has to be said. Still, no 80s Matchbox live show would be complete without it. They surprise me by playing Mister Mental, and even though they got off their tourbus to drink Claret all the way through my ahem, interview, they’re all clearly on top form. Frontman Guy Knowles is as deranged as ever, while Sym Gharial and Dominic Knight shred their way through their instruments like there’s no tomorrow. Superb.

After this, Egyptian Hip Hop Club tone things down a bit in the Rescue Rooms, but admittedly I don’t stay long, as some of us definitely need our beauty sleep.

Related posts:

1. Dot to Dot Festival 2009, Nottingham
2. Review: Sonar Festival 2010 - Day Three
3. Review: Sonar Festival 2010 - Day Two

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