DMA'SHatchie, real name Harriette Pilbeam, has been lucky enough to accompany DMA'S on their Australian run off the back of her debut EP release, Sugar & Spice, and glistening track Try was the perfect opener.
With a three-piece band in tow, Pilbeam injected the evening with some dreamy pop and '60s vibes; cycling through EP tunes Sugar & Spice, Sleep and Bad Guy - a fantastic, acoustic-driven release. Pilbeam's bubblegum-sweet voice soared through Enmore Theatre this evening, a trait that really elevates the band's fuzzy shoegaze and bright synth mix above every other guitar band riding the revival wave right now. The set was clinched with Sure.
DMA'S have gone gangbusters. Selling out their Australian tour, when only a few months ago they were still trying to shed their Oasis comparisons, spells a long future for these boys who are spearheading a Britpop revival.
Walking on to a '90s synth tune, the stage shrouded in cloud of smoke, DMA'S took their positions and kicked off their set with Feels like 37. With three additional touring members in tow, the band meant business. For the first chunk of the set they methodically cycled through tracks primarily off For Now, including the title track, Warsaw, Time & Money and Break Me and In The Air (which crowd members turned into an ode to friendship).
They sounded like bona fide rock stars and had the light show to match, but the lack of crowd interaction from the band left it up to the audience to elevate the energy in the room, which mostly served them well and didn't seem bother many. Most were caught up in their own singalongs with friends. They finally broke before Step Up The Morphine, for Tommy O'Dell to address us briefly, introducing the song before following it up with Delete. Everyone had a good boogie to Dawning, before O'Dell thanked us for coming and they closed the set with slow burner, Emily Whyte.
The calls for an encore came and were almost too swiftly met with Play It Out and In The Moment, which saw the crowd savouring the moment before popping their best dance moves to the bright guitar licks in danceable number Lay Down.
While you couldn't fault DMA'S performance or their mass appeal (everyone from grandmas to teenagers were at the show), from the reputation they have built for themselves we just expected more charisma and personality from their live show, which was evidently lacking on this occasion.
