Review and Photography by Jonathan Taylor
Instagram: jonathantaylorphotography
After the release of their 4th studio album, ‘How Many Dreams?’, which was released on 31st March, the Aussie trio are back on British soil with a 12 date UK tour, along with a run of stripped back acoustic and signings sessions at independent record stores across the UK.
We join the DMA’S on the fifth night of the tour at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton. It is clear on arrival at the venue that DMA’S have captured the imagination of both those young and old, as the crowd in the venue spans the generations, which is testament to the band’s ability, in terms of their musical prowess and creativity.
DMA’S take to the stage to an impressive lighting display backed by the synth driven intro of new album title track ‘How Many Dreams?’ With its electronic dance inspired elements, it is celebratory in sound and the perfect set opener and gets a jubilant response from the sold out venue. Guitar driven ‘Olympia’, another track off the new album follows, which is more reminiscent to early works from their debut album ‘Hills End’.
Up next is ‘The Glow’, ‘Timeless’, then ‘Silver’ which is an absolute delight and sees the crowd with arms aloft, singing every word back to the stage.
From start to finish the evening is an anthemic masterclass, which draws on the band’s back catalogue, with the likes of ‘Tape deck Sick’, ‘Hello Grilfriend’ and ‘Delete’. There are the obligatory heavier periods with fan favourites ‘Play It Out’, ‘Lay Down’ and ‘Feels like 37’, but in stark contrast a beautifully tender moment where DMA’S play a stripped back acoustic version of new album track ‘Forever’. With front man Tommy O’Dells silk like vocals, accompanied by guitarist Matty Mason on the piano and Johnny Took on acoustic guitar, it was without question one of the evenings highlights.
Completely unexpected and much to everyone’s surprise the first song of the encore was ‘Blown Away’ from DMA’S debut album ‘Hills End’, which got a rear outing played live and after it’s jubilant response, now hopefully will be a regular live addition to future set lists.
DMA’S have been truly embraced by fans on British soil and are fast becoming one of the driving forces in the tapestry of the UK music scene. The new material marks yet another departure in terms of musical creativity and evolvement and it weaves perfectly electronic dance layers seamlessly with the bands trademark guitar based foundations, which sounds perfectly at home with the bands back catalogue. The evening captured the absolute joy, spirit and energy of DMA’S, where, on a typically wet Bank Holiday Monday, fans of the band spent the evening united and galvanised by music.
Set List:
‘How Many Dreams?’
‘Olympia’
‘The Glow’
‘Timeless’
‘Silver’
‘Something We Are Overcoming’
‘Tape Deck Sick’
‘Fading Like A Picture’
‘Hello Girlfriend’
‘Forever’ (acoustic)
‘Delete’
‘Play It Out’
‘Lay Down’
Encore:
‘Blown Away’
‘Laced’
‘Feels Like 37’
Everybody’s saying Thursdays The Weekend’
