Fat Dog are a band on a seemingly never-ending rise. Huge singles, a deal with Domino Records and a stellar debut record. This weekend, the Fat Dog chaos descended on Manchester, with support in the shape of London risers, RIP Magic.
RIP Magic are borne of a collaboration between Sorry’s Marco Pini and visual artist Felix Bayley-Higgins. Friends since the sixth form, the duo have an expanded band and play out a short, sharp set of electronic, industrial bangers. The sound is sludgey and reminiscent of stoner rock with sprinklings of dance and electronica thrown in for good measure. Like the Dessert Sessions if Josh Homme had done more MDMA.
Before long, Fat Dog step out. Rapturous applause greets the group, now much expanded (an additional percussionist and violinist), they pack out the stage and fill the big room with their immense noise. FD blast through ‘Show Me The Way’, ‘All The Same’ and the monumental ‘King of the Slugs’: their new band uplifts the already massive noise to unheard levels. Adding the extra members makes Fat Dog more muscular, brusker and adds a much-needed depth to the band’s noise. Not to mention, there seems to be renewed energy and focus about the group – Fat Dog 2.0 are here and ready to take on some massive stages.
The tunes keep coming and the whirling mosh pit grows and writhes with the added intensity. ‘Clowns’, ‘Pray To That’ and ‘Bad Dog’ keep cranking up the noise and the sweat fulled intensity bouncing around Manchester Academy. ‘Peace Song’ is a ginormous moment to begin the final act of proceedings: there is a real sense that Fat Dog aren’t fucking around anymore – they’re here to melt minds and blow eardrums.
‘Running’ closes proceedings as the wailing guitars and synths cry a guttural scream of feedback. Fat Dog are improved: bigger, louder, heavier. They’ve grown, matured and developed over the last year or so since they were packing out tiny venues. Their new sound suits the larger rooms to a tee.
