Concert Review: Dual at Whammy, 4 June 2021

At 10pm The Whammy bar is crowded and when Dual come on stage just before 10.20pm it is clear they have evolved since I last saw them. They have added live drums to support Maurice Miller’s vocals and electronics, and Jamie Pyne’s guitar.

It is also clear that many of the crowd have seen the band before, songs are greeted with a noise of recognition and there are people singing along with every word of the songs.

The gig starts with waves of synthesised noise and echoing vocals as they play Descend from the Lately I Don’t Know EP. Instantly the crowd are swaying or moving to the rhythm as Miller paces the stage and Pyne explores his effects pedals to produce waves of psychedelic influenced guitar work.

The next four tracks played tonight are also from last year’s Lately I Don’t  Know EP. Following Descend they play a snappier version of Over And Over, the break up track Honey, the infectious Running Round My Head and the haunting, echoing Come My Way.

Jump Out continue the high energy before the instantly catchy tempo and the ear worm lyrics of Lately I Don’t Know lead to the biggest singalong of the night. It seems as though the whole crowd is moving along to the crunchy beat.

The crowd’s enthusiasm continues as they play the great disco pulse of the recently released Two Hands Up. Miller’s high vocals are complemented by shifts in guitar tone. Throughout the set Miller, in particular, and Pyne are in constant movement which encourages the crowd to do the same. Late in the set Miller ends up in the crowd, due, I think, to a bit of help from Pyne.

Wipe Your Tears has the guitar and drums ricocheting around with vocals ringing out underneath what becomes a circling groove. Danceable guitar riffs are also a key part of the encore Green Eyed, which uses the interplay of drums, vocals and guitar to build to a climax.

This guitar based electronic music is somewhere between Primal Scream, Khruangbin and Tame Impala. Dual deliver excellent indie dance music which makes the most of Miller’s voice, and Pyne’s ability to use his guitar and pedals to move between exciting rhythm and tones. Their live sound is grittier than on record with more emphasis on the psychedelic guitar work and the drumming which adds texture to the dance music and lyrical hooks.

Last night the terrific sounds, endless enthusiasm and high energy of Dual got the crowd moving, kept them moving and left them wanting more.

John Bradbury

Click on any image to view a gallery of photos:

Set list
Descend
Over And Over
Honey
Running Round My Head
Come My Way
Jump Out
Lately I Don’t Know
Two Hands Up
Wipe Your Tears
Outro

Encore
Green Eyed