The Dunts at Drummonds – Gig Review
Cat Martin
As soon I heard that The Dunts were going to be playing in the intimate space of Drummonds, I knew that this was one not to be missed. The self-proclaimed (and well earned) ‘council punk’ band were supported by rock n roll four piece The Roov and local up and comers Vansleep.
Although up-tempo indie rock can be exceptionally fun to experience live and dance along to, The Roov found themselves outdone by the other bands of the night. The wonderfully grooving guitar melodies were somewhat undercut by the keyboard, leaving the audience still happy but dissatisfied.
As always, Vansleep gave an impassioned live performance only further supported by their talent for writing energetic and compelling alt-rock tunes. Their latest song, Daytime TV, saw new drummer Bilal Benzahia provide a punchy but clean-cut drum beat and vocalist/frontman Kyle MacRitchie showing off during the almost-manic second chorus. The band also brought out the emotional and atmospheric Stargazer, which is a personal favourite.
If the supporting bands could be considered energetic, then The Dunts are so high-octane that they might just spontaneously combust on stage. The Glasgow-based garage rock/punk band have seen a sharp rise recently, building a dedicated fanbase in their hometown and even in other countries, their single Witch Hunt was played on radios in both the U.S. and Germany.
The way that frontman Rab Smith interacted with the crowd was brilliant to see, with him even joining the push pit at one point (mid-song, which is pretty impressive). It’s obvious from the get-go that they understand what its like to be in that crowd, to experience the unique catharsis of punk music and truly give in to the feeling of it. Kicking off their set with the explosive G53 and including some crowd favourites like hit track Dimitri, their clashy guitars and unforgiving rhythms are a fever dream you can’t forget.
Bursting into the scene with frenzied energy and the tongue-in-cheek charm to match it, The Dunts continue to exceed expectations in every way. It’s no reach to imagine them achieving national success in the coming years, so make sure you keep an eye out for their name (I know I will be).
