Forming in early 2016, Birmingham-based indie band DAME have had quite the success, releasing their self-titled EP the same year and their newest single ‘Habit’ in April 2018. After proving popular in the Indie Lounge and at ValeFest, the 14th of December saw the beginning of their Cold Water tour at the Bristol Pear. After this the 5-piece band would travel to Brighton on the 17th and London on the 19th .

As I arrived at the Bristol Pear in time for penultimate support act Harico, the immediately warm, buzzing atmosphere was a stark contrast to the cold Selly streets. The Bristol Pear is an ideal venue for small, intimate gigs, as I already knew from my dedicated visits to the university’s poetry night, Grizzly Pear. The muted lighting, mini stage and great acoustics are the perfect combination for an amazing night, whether it’s poetry or music.

The energy fellow Brum natives Harico brought was evident as soon as I made my way to the front of the stage

The energy fellow Brum natives Harico brought was evident as soon as I made my way to the front of the stage through the lively crowd, bounding off lead vocalist and guitarist Alex Nettle’s upbeat stage presence. The electronic indie band’s craftsmanship was obvious through the deft interweaving of catchy guitar riffs and impeccable drum beats during ‘Dressed Up to the Nines’, which had the whole audience moving. Their set ended with ‘Doves’, an atmospheric song created through broken chords and glinting harmonies, slowly building up to a rousing, drum-heavy end that still retained the chill vibe which perfectly carried through to the final support act, VSDN.

VSDN defy all genres of music, their full name being ‘Verschieden’, which means ‘different’ or ‘miscellaneous’ in German. Their tagline, and indeed genre if they had to choose, is ‘music to make you feel good’, which they certainly lived up to. Effortlessly cool, their onstage energy radiated carefree vibes. Each component effortlessly melted together, from the smooth trombone sounds, to the witty lyrics and constant, snappy rhymes such as ‘I told her […] it was neither / Listen baby, I was with the homies playing Fifa’, and some of the best bass lines I’ve ever heard. VSDN’s sound is clearly meticulously crafted, but their amusing lyrics and at-ease stage presence also showed they’re making music for the fun of it.

The audience had been taken on quite the ride by the time DAME came on stage, kicking off their set with the song ‘Pictures’, that began with a vibrant guitar solo interspersed with lead vocalist Shannon Farmer’s powerful vocals and high energy that instantly filled the room. Despite me being stood right next to the speaker, and her fun moves on stage, Shannon’s voice was perfectly and impressively clear.

Shannon Farmer’s powerful vocals and high energy instantly filled the room

Following the predominantly guitar-led song ‘Bite’, ‘Wear Me Down’ was a slow-burning song. With breathy vocals and sultry lyrics lightly placed atop a steady drum beat and a quiet, melodic guitar, the tune encapsulated the alluring sound of DAME, as did the following song ‘Cold Water’, due to be released in the new year.

Their second-last song, ‘Runaway’, was evidently an old favourite, the crowd screaming and singing along even harder than when the band first entered. Taken from their eponymous EP, the upbeat tune declared itself with pounding drums courtesy of new drummer Matt England, and Shannon’s gradual, whispering announcement: ‘I need a bit of space’. Her playful ‘Oh’’s that interjected the chorus made the song even catchier; added to the underlying atmospheric synths and dreamy riffs, it is understandable why this song is such a hit. I noticed that, towards the end of the gig, the other bands had mingled with the audience, which was lovely to see. There was no air of superiority, everyone was just there to enjoy the music and support their fellow musicians.

They are clearly doing what they love, and their passion translates into great music

DAME ended their set with ‘Habit’, and the audience were certainly taken on another ride. The synth-heavy intro swiftly melted into rhythmic pulses that drove the atmospheric verses into the chorus, which gave the same playful electronic vibes as Fickle Friends’ music, and was stuck in my head for a while. Shannon’s voice suddenly and impressively changed during the bridge, rivalling the staccato rhythm of the synth. The jagged synths and impressive variation of vocal styles pushed the song forward and finished off their set with a bang.

Despite having formed relatively recently, DAME present themselves both very professionally, evident from the intricate crafting of their songs and seamless workings as a band, but also as a group simply having fun with it. They are clearly doing what they love, and their passion translates into great music. DAME wholly deserve the screaming, dedicated fans, who I’m sure will rapidly grow over the years; I can guarantee that my friends and I are among them. The band seemed overjoyed with the turnout and energy of the crowd, and so they should. They brought it after all.

Tickets to see DAME are available here.