Live Review: DMA’s + Starwheel, The Venue Derby (13/07/16)

Australian indie trio DMA’s first gained prominence in 2014 with ‘Delete’ and a subsequent EP, instantly attracting comparisons to Oasis and The Enemy. Last year their debut album ‘Hill’s End’ delivered twelve high quality, versatile tunes which, combined with their packed touring schedule and word-of-mouth buzz around the group, ensured a sizeable crowd for their gig at The Venue on 13 July.

Opening up were local Derby group Starwheel, who have already gained acclaim for their psychedelic and diverse sound. The group’s headline shows have already generated quite a buzz, and for good reason; all five of the band gelled together perfectly to impress early arrivals with ambient vocals and instrumentation resembling acts ranging from Pink Floyd to Blossoms. By the time their last song came around all too quickly, it was more than apparent that Starwheel are onto big things. It’s genuinely exciting for such a young band to already have both the songs and substance to go far, and Starwheel are well worth catching live if you get the chance.

Cheers went up as DMA’s, accompanied by a number of live musicians to expand their sound even further, took to the stage and instantly tore into album opener ‘Timeless’. Lead singer Tommy O’Dell (not to be confused with John Lewis advert crooner Tom Odell; the two couldn’t be more different) gave the first in a series of confident vocal performances, instantly establishing his impressive stage presence. As the crowd chanted along with the hook line “you’re timeless, woah, yeah”, it was clear that the set had started in style with an electric atmosphere already present, complemented by The Venue’s high sound quality and concertgoers who were fully engaged from the start.

The group’s fourth single ‘Too Soon’ and album track ‘Straight Dimensions’ featured all the best hallmarks of the Britpop sound, proving that DMA’s are far from derivative yet openly mould their influences into a style that feels very fresh. Non-album single ‘Feels Like 37’ took the energy in the room to another level, with an absolutely gigantic chorus delivered over a blistering wall of sound sparking mosh pits among the most enthusiastic fans at the front. ‘In The Moment’ carries all the swagger of early Oasis tracks, while ‘Melbourne’ evoked the sun and optimism of its titular Australian city summed up by the line “I won’t feel no pain”. ‘Lay Down’, possibly their best known track so far, only incited further moshing and sing-a-longs, with the guitar work and song structure staking its claim as one of their finest works.

A man of few words in between songs but humble and enthusiastic when he did comment, Tommy thanked everyone ahead of a real change of mood brought about by two slower efforts. Starting off acoustically, ‘So We Know’ dealt with heartbreak and saw a particularly tender vocal. As beautifully evocative strumming gave way to the full band coming in for a soaring, stylish end. The most emotional, and for me the very best, moment of the night was ‘Delete’. With the crowd at their very loudest and Tommy putting real passion into the lovelorn ballad, it is another acoustic number which saw the trio’s songwriting at its most simplistic but also most effective. It was one of those moments where song, band and crowd came together perfectly to ensure four and a half unforgettable minutes.

‘Your Low’ seamlessly took the band back into more upbeat territory, and was the first of the final three, well-received songs. ‘Your Low’ could work equally well as a summer festival anthem as it did at a headline gig, and ‘Laced’ – another track that didn’t make it onto ‘Hill’s End’, but has remained well-liked by fans and DMA’s alike – echoed The Stone Roses’ rousing, layered stylings. The gig ended with the album’s final track ‘Play It Out’ which, with its incredibly catchy refrain of “I’m stuck inside of you, you’re stuck inside of me”, a well-chosen set closer that is one of the more atmospheric and memorable songs on ‘Hill’s End’. It is safe to say that the night absolutely flew by, with DMA’s leaving their audience truly lifted.

Over the next few months, festival appearances at Truck, Latitude and Reading & Leeds plus more UK tour stops should further the prominence of DMA’s in the indie scene. If they can keep up the quality and passion of their live performances there is no limit to what could lie ahead and, on the strength of their set at The Venue, DMA’s deserve nothing less than to be playing on the very biggest stages.

9/10