Drenge at Dingwalls

Hailing from Sheffield, alternative rock outfit Drenge consists solely of brothers Eion and Rory Loveless. While the sound of a two-piece sibling band inevitably invites aural comparisons with a certain Jack White-fronted, red & white sporting rock duo, the musical DNA of Drenge has far more in common with another Detroit-based blues ensemble: The Von Bondies, with the vocal style in particular recalling Jason Stollsteimer’s.

The unassuming duet slip onto the stage virtually unnoticed, but as a mild shrill of feedback swells into a luscious drone of fuzzy distortion, Drenge quickly capture the audience’s full attention, and – after quickly overcoming an early technical fault that threatens to mar their forceful start – effortlessly sustain it throughout their engaging, albeit brief set.

Achieving exactly what all small bands need to in a live environment (particularly at venues as exposing as Dingwalls) Drenge sound an awfully lot bigger than their appearance suggests. Full-bodied and dynamic, they lay siege to the venue’s PA system with admirable vigour.

Recent double A-side single Bloodsports has confident, lurching riffs that give the track a QOTSA-esque swagger, and Dogmeat is a jerky number that, like almost all of Drenge’s tracks, barely comes close to reaching the three-minute mark.

At times the pace lessens, but the quality does not. In fact, their standout track is the slower-paced and gloriously irreverent People in Love Make Me Feel Yuk. It is an undeniably infectious little song, clocking in at less than two minutes, with a melody that instantly reels you in.

It’s a rare occasion when their brevity almost works against them you’d rather the song kept going and went with a formulaic structure, purely so you could enjoy a second verse and chorus. To be sure, it’s a minor complaint in what is otherwise a very satisfying and hugely promising display.

Verdict: ••••

Tom Yates

 For further information about Drenge and future events visit here.