DAMNDOGS + Wolf & Cub – Oxford Art Factory (21.07.11)

I made my way into the Oxford Art Factory just in time to catch one of my favourite Australian groups, Adelaide’s Wolf & Cub. It had been a while since I’d seen the four piece, so it was a pleasure to see them back in action – 2 drums, 1 guitar and 1 bass working together to create some inarguably impressive music; the sort of music that in one moment has you dancing your face off and in the next has you grooving into slouched splendour. Just good old rock and roll, really.

While in the past a Wolf & Cub set would come across as a lengthy jam, tonight the set seemed a lot more structured, with touches of now defunct UK group The Music ringing through. This was a new observation as well. This was all a positive thing though, as it continues my ongoing “I never know what to expect when I see Wolf & Cub live” rhetoric. Look back to some of my reviews from 2008 and you’ll see what I mean… As always boys, it was a pleasure.

By the time Damn Dogs hit the stage in Sydney for the first time, it was clear the room was full of the following: Industry folk who have had their hands on early demos for a while, Jet aficionados and a few straight up Damn Dogs fans who genuinely seemed to be familiar with, and enthusiastic about, their music. The result was a great atmosphere, the crowd getting behind the band in every way. So, who is this band you ask?

The group brings together Chris Cester (formerly on drums, here taking on lead vocals) and Mark Wilson (bass) of Jet with Mitch McIvor (Guitar) and Louis Macklin (Keys/Electronics) – who have both have worked with Jet in the past. The result is actually something quite special. I sound surprised because I genuinely am… I feel it’s common perception that the quality of Jet’s music has gone gradually downhill with each release, and in Damn Dogs we seem to find where some of that creativity had been laying dormant.

With Cester jumping into the crowd and embracing a tracksuit reminiscent of Liam Gallagher, he expertly played the part of the rock star. Even the music screamed of a lead vocalist who has been honing his craft for years, full of ego, talent and gravitas. Having met the guy, I know it’s very much part of the show (sorry to blow it!), but it fits him and the music perfectly, which seems to reach for a particularly Manchesterian tone.

Bands like Happy Mondays, Stone Roses and New Order all come through as influences in select moments, though the sound is very much their own, Macklin proving some particularily unique fare as he plays the role of DJ, Keyboardist and digi-Drummer.

Having only officially released a single thus far, the Damn Dogs set was a short, though powerful and energetic one. Single and standout track “Very First Century” saw the bass cranked up to eleven, “Cocaine” saw Cester party with the crowd and the closing track “Love” seemed to be inspired by the Steve Miller Band (see “Abracadabra”).

Given my last comment, much like Jet this is a group pulling in influences from all over the shop. But I daresay that the direction Damn Dogs are heading will give them much more freedom to experiment than their better known project, all the meanwhile not having to worry about a website lazily posting a photo of a monkey pissing in its own mouth as its review. Well, not this one anyway.

For a band’s first gig, no expense was spared in delivering a world-class display of musicianship and experience: both the light show and the mixing were second to none. But all the same they’re not going out of their way to try and prove themselves as anything more than what they are. They weren’t standing up there berating the fact that the gig hadn’t sold out, nor pronouncing themselves as the greatest band of all time. They’re simply playing their songs – songs which for the most part are damn good – and giving us all something to look forward to: seeing what this band gets up to next. Bring it on!

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.