By Jack Walsh
It was the night after Halloween, and Manchester was plagued by train strikes and delays. Was that going to stop us from attending one of the most anticipated gigs of the year? Certainly not! The English band known to you and me as Fat Dog was in town and ready to party.
Forming during the COVID-19 lockdown and described by Gary Ryan of NME as “2023’s wildest live band,” Fat Dog have certainly made a name for themselves. Blending dance, punk, and klezmer, they released their debut album titled WOOF (what a name!) on the 6th of September 2024, to a great reception, with King Of The Slugs being my favourite. As I made my way to the venue, my inner fan boy was excited for the night ahead.
Unfortunately, due to the train strikes, I didn’t make it in time for the opening band, Just For Fun. Sorry, guys.
As I walked into the gig, the lights dimmed and the second band of the evening, SILVERWINGKILLER, made their way onto the stage. Talk about timing! The Salford duo ripped through their set with no mercy. This was a set not for the faint-hearted.
…Wait, was that a pit I saw forming?! Don’t worry, their drummer, James Baca, had already spotted it and took full pleasure in joining it himself, what a lad! This was a duo I will be keeping my eye on for the foreseeable future.
Originally, Snapped Ankles was next on the line-up, although after an unfortunate dropout, they were replaced by the Belfast-based multidisciplinary artist Mount Palomar. “I want you to dance, Manchester!” Neil Kerr yelled to the crowd as his pulsating beats echoed on the factory floor; not a single body in the crowd could resist the inevitable dance that was evident around the venue. The whole place felt like a ’90s rave bar, and they were loving it. There’s a reason why he’s one of the UK’s most unique electronic acts, and he was proving that on Saturday night.
Returning from the dead (see what I did there) in Manchester for one night only was the British band Working Men’s Club, whose blend of synth-pop and post-punk captivated us in a chokehold with no signs of release. What’s crazy to me is I photographed these guys back in 2019 at Confessional Festival, and yet as I stood watching their set, the only thing I could think of was how far they had changed. Don’t get me wrong, I liked them before, but this set I loved.
Lead singer Sydney Minsky Sargeant ran the show in such style and finesse that it was hard to blink. He had the crowd pinpointed on him at all times, spitting out lyrics with such venom as he glided across the stage with his stylish dance moves. Mix this with his band delivering iconic riffs, peppered with a tantalising light show, and you have a final support act that was one for the ages. I still can’t get some of their beats out of my head as I write this review.
WOOF! WOOF! Now who could that be? The lights faded to black, and one by one the mystery inc gang entered the stage. Wait, are they dressed up as Scooby Doo characters? How did I not think of this genius?! Gotta take notes for next Halloween.
As they continued to walk on, the tune to Vigilante began to play as Neil Bell delivered the opening lyrics to the song. The tension in the room rose as he continued to speak, everyone waiting with an eagerness to let loose. The match of these fireworks was lit, and there was no stopping what was about to unfold. As the guitars roared and the drums went into overdrive, the crowd didn’t hesitate. It was pure mayhem. Even Chris Hughes, their keyboardist leapt into the crowd to join in on the celebrations.
Were things about to slow down? Not a chance! The favourite, King Of The Slugs, was about to begin. At that point, I had made my way back into the crowd. I wanted to experience this gig in the pits. None of the band was holding back, from the gritty bass line to the slicing of the violin, we all screamed “KING OF THE SLUGS” till our voices ached, waiting for that inevitable drop to arrive. Then lead singer Joe Love began chanting “The Wall”; it was time. The countdown was on. The lyrics slowed, and the crowd became louder. Just like at the start, the crowd was ready for another eruption. To the beat of the drum, hands were clapped, and the chanting of “The Wall” became deafening. For a second, everything went silent, and the saxophone entered. The pits soon flooded with bodies, and the rave had begun.
“You’ve been bad dogs, Manchester,” Joe Love shouted at the end of their latest released track Pray To That before launching into, well… you guessed it: Bad Dog. Their set was full of unreleased tracks, which was such a welcome surprise. Usually, bands only include one or two tracks, yet Fat Dog had plenty. We were even given a live debut of their song Haunted House. Very fitting for the evening. I really enjoyed the banter Joe had with the crowd, also, from telling the crowd “You’ve been lovely” to “Go f*ck yourselves” a couple of seconds later. It was a riot, and so was the track Fuck Urself. Here’s hoping that the track is released soon!
As Wither came to a close, we all knew we had only one song left. People’s clean-cut costumes had now turned into sweaty, ripped costumes, a clear sign of a great night. We were all exhausted. Yet, their last track, Running, didn’t care for that! This track wanted you moving, and wasn’t taking no for an answer. The rally call had commenced, and for the final time of the night, we let loose.
So what can I say about my first experience of Fat Dog live? I might say that it was in my top gigs of the year, because it easily was. My love for electro-punk and techno only grew last year, yet after Saturday, it might soon become one of my most-listened-to genres. If you haven’t checked out Fat Dog for yourselves, I highly recommend seeing them live in 2026! But be warned, you have no idea what you’re in for.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
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