dEUS

+ White Lies

Scala, London - 16 Apr 2008

by Rob McCrae

New Noise sees Belgian old timers kick the sentimentality into touch

"Rather than feeling like a retro wander through their back catalogue, dEUS are risking the new and reaping the rewards"

Photo by Jereye

Belgium has given the world the finest chocolates, the most refined beer and the band dEUS, a band who gently soaped grunge lovers’ shoulders way back in the early nineties. This tour, sold out long before some of their more cautious fans could get their act together, is rammed full of die hards who clog up the air ventilation with their breathless anticipation.

Despite being interminably linked to Seattle’s apathy scene, dEUS were always at ease with their contemplatative side. Tonight is their chance to deliver some of their new album ('Vantage Point'), which on this beef laden evidence kicks their wistful days firmly into touch.

Depressingly for some, the band have all aged extremely well - especially lead singer Tom Barman, who looks like someone you wouldn’t let your daughter sit next to at a wedding. The rest of the band also sport the kind of battered good looking air that makes them ideal fodder for desperate housewives angling for a musician with a continental accent.

dEUS have been together since 1992 (save for a brief hiatus in the early noughties) - a heritage that is obvious in the tightness of their playing, particularly as they prowl around the stage, working their profiles for the lighting man. Some of the new album tracks - like like the imperious 'Slow' and the brutish 'Favourite Game' are genuinely fearsome tanks of muscle and this new material is in fact much better than some of their older stuff.

Caving into the inevitable, as the concert caroms to a close, the band wheel out their classic 'Suds and Soda'. The crowd go dutifully wild like oats. Rather than feeling like a retro wander through their back catalogue, dEUS are risking the new and reaping the rewards. Belgium finally has a rock band to truly recommend.
Lovepump 69 said on May 7th 2008 [report abuse]

This gig was AGES ago

Lots Of Guns said on May 7th 2008 [report abuse]

"Belgium finally has a rock band to truly recommend" Erm, so you've ignored Evil Superstars, Soulwax, Millionaire, Zita Swoon and even dEUS for the past 15 years then? Finally?! Belgium's been doing fine for quite a while, sir

Joe Bananas said on May 7th 2008 [report abuse]

Also, the band haven't all been together since 1992, the line up has changed, however the current line up is the same one that toured the previous line up and as a result are pretty damn tight. Cracking gig, shame White Lies were so incredibly dull. Next big thing my hairy ball sack.

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