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DiRtY
In this world of post-rock, space rock, sports goth, newskool, oldskool, and Boarding skool, Dirty are furiously uncompromising. As I walk towards the sweaty den of dropouts and fakers that is The Red Lion, Northfleet, a tower block falls on a glass factory whilst cars screech as they try to avoid it. This is the sound of Dirty sound-checking.I say hello to the boys and ask them what their set-list is. It went something like this:
Keep Them
Look At You
Create
Let You Down
Taste Like Strawberries
All I want
Last Days of Disco
You Don't Understand
In reality, the set is only half that length and full of stops, starts, screams and explosions. But this is no matter, for the Dirty sound is more about attack than introspection. We are treated with aural torture which breaks into moments of orchestral brilliance. This sound is due mainly to the bass player; a closely cut line of charisma and Klarky Kats; his bass noodlings bring Dirty to a level they would otherwise falter from. For whilst frontman, Stuart's screams and glassy guitar work define the Dirty sound, their drummer, George Smumma is completely out of place. His cardboard box, toddler drumming is the biggest let down when seeing Dirty live. However, none of this matters, for tonight Dirty are doing their job; and We love it.
The first two songs are live favourites 'Keep Them' and 'Create' proving that new is not necessarily better. All is going well when suddenly, 'kchunckapoom !' Stuart's Amp has exploded and the fetid walls of The Lion are silent. Stuart leans over to hug his amp. What has gone wrong?
Eventually the band decide to continue with Steve offstage and Stuart with his guitar through the bass amp. The guitar sounds better, although Steve is missed. However the set continues briefly and then closes with 'The Last Days of Disco', and then silence.
Tonight we see what Dirty are really about. Not Dirty metallers, not a cheesy 'Trash Can'esque garage band, nor a Sonic Youth pastiche, but instead an attack on all that come against these doomed young souls. You want a cover? Fuck You. You want some tunes? Fuck You. You want an explanation? Fuck You! Fuck You! and Fuck it all!
So The Last Days of Disco these may be, but these are certainly not the last days of Dirty, for with this performance and with their upcoming appearance at the Gravesend Festival, Dirty prove that dirty they are but down they are not. Go see.
