When I was offered the chance to see DMA’s in Aberdeen last Monday, there was no way I was turning it down, despite the gig being held in a city, four hours away from my home town! DMA’s are a band of character, talent and just sheer brilliance all rolled into one. The three-piece indie rock band, made up of Tommy, Matt & Johnny, rose to fame a few years prior after putting their own twist on the 90’s classic ‘Believe’ by Cher recorded on the Australian radio station – Triple J. As soon as I heard it, I automatically had to hear more – Tommy’s voice and the tranquil sounds of the acoustic guitars collided beautifully. Sure any band can cover a song but it takes a specific band to make that cover their own. Fast forward a couple of years and they’re now one of my favourite modern bands selling out shows all over the UK. Insane considering, they originate from Sydney, Australia – the other side of the world!
The recently renovated Music Hall located bang in Aberdeen's city centre is a lively venue and for me the perfect size.I think it's great that a band like DMA's who are getting bigger and bigger still chose to play gigs in areas that get missed a lot. A great gesture. It was my first time being in Aberdeen for a gig so I really wasn’t sure what to expect as I’m so use to the Glaswegian crowds. But hey a gig in Scotland is a gig in Scotland and the atmosphere created by a Scots crowd is one we’re famous for. The Aberdeen crowd didn’t disappoint – even before DMA’s came on – the music was blaring and the people singing created a huge hype for the night.
A hype that definitely lived up to expectations.
Sadly I didn’t make it in time to see the support band, Belako as my bus got delayed however I’ll definitely be checking them out next time they’re gigging in Scotland. In fact we just made it minutes before DMA's came on stage and opened the set with ‘Dawning’ a song from their second album, ‘For Now’. Straight away I knew this would be a gig to remember.
The crowd was predominately younger which is amazing to see. I think nowadays the majority of younger people favour music based on the UK charts, house and pop music. Nothing wrong with that, you like the music you like for a reason however it’s so nice to see a group of teenagers singing their hearts out to a band like DMA’s, a real band who write their own music and play their own stuff. A true inspiration in the music world. Belting out every lyric from every song, you could tell the crowd had been fans of DMA’s from the beginning. You could just see and feel a genuine love surrounding the place which is a clear indicator of the influence that DMA’s have over the younger generation. It’s incredible to see how one band can have such an impact on an entire group of individuals. Very special to witness.
The band, itself, were just so well focused. This was my second time seeing DMA’s live, first time being at Bellahouston Park supporting Catfish and the Bottlemen. Comparing them from being a support act last year to selling out their own headlining tour this year, it’s insane to see how far they’ve progressed. Don’t get me wrong, I thought their set last year was class however, this time round I left knowing I’d just witnessed one of the best bands perform live in the music industry today. As the set went on, I was just total mesmerised – I felt I was in a trance when they performed certain songs. My favourite of the night had to be the song, ‘Tape Deck Sick’ with their opening lines, ‘So let me in cause I've seen visions of you breaking out the sunlight, we intertwine, Yet distant minds are learning longing for the same thing’ , the type of lyrics so pure that make you drift away into a day dream. It’s such a beautiful song and seeing it live added that extra effect.
The whole gig was just one massive big singalong, it actually felt like a reunion tour of their greatest hits which is crazy since they've only just begun!
The carefully constructed set-list was designed perfectly with a mix of both albums, ‘For Now and ‘Hill’s End’. ‘Step up the Morphine, Do I Need You Now?’ and ‘Delete’ to name a few. I was surprised to see that they never performed their cover of ‘Believe’ however, as much as I love their version of it, I can understand, they might be trying to get away from being viewed as ‘the band that covered Cher’ when in reality they are so much more than that! With a curfew of 11pm, there’s only so many songs they can perform so I’m happy they did stick to their own originals. Ending their set with both banger’s ‘Feels like 37’ and ‘Lay Down’, the whole place erupted. From acoustic numbers to indie rock, the band don’t just have one sound. I hear a lot of the Gallagher brothers in their songs but with their own unique style. I think that’s how they work so well!
Overall it was a fantastic night with amazing energy not only from the band but the crowd as well. A few weeks on and I’m still reminiscing about it… If you haven’t listened to DMA’s yet then I highly recommend you do – a band I can’t go through a day without listening too.
On a side note, i would just like to say a huge thank you to the incredibly talented Hannah Power for the amazing gig photos. Give her a follow on her photography Instagram Account @hanpphotographyon !
Links for DMA's
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/DMASDMAS/
Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iUTUix5kea176M0uJTsh4?si=CY1e7G2-SoSMcoishFmtKA
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