Dot To Dot Festival 2011, Manchester

Photo Credit: Victor Frankowski

Cults, Club Academy

On record, Cults are a neat, summery joy to listen to. Live, they suffer the curse of the “awful sound man”, who manages to pummel their sugar sweet sound into one of sheer frustration; an unbalanced gloopy mess. There are glimmers of wonderfulness, especially on the catchy ‘You Know What I Mean’ showcasing singer Madline Follin’s brilliant voice.

It’s apparent that Cults have the stage presence, songs and potential to be an enjoyable live band, but the surroundings of Club Academy ruin their potential. Better suited to perhaps a sunny festival stage, watching Cults is frustrating to say the least. (Leah Henson)

Ed Sheeran, Academy

The reception that Ed Sheeran gets upon taking to the Academy stage is bizarre; around a hundred screaming girls cheer every single thing he does. He could have announced he was the leader of a cult or killed puppies, and that would have been greeted with a cheer. Having first seen Ed Sheeran a year ago, it’s shocking how much his fame has elevated him to something akin to the indie Justin Bieber.

Performing material including a song about a drug taking prostitute, it does seem odd that his current audience appears to be mostly fourteen year old girls. It all leaves you wondering if Ed Sheeran wants to be taken seriously but somehow can’t shake off the “cute” tag. Undeniably talented and most interesting when he throws out the catchy “pop” hooks, it’s frustrating to see Ed Sheeran pander to the songs that make him dull; unfortunately his own songs. A cover of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ in the style of Jamie Woon shows off his voice and it seems that if Ed Sheeran works on his songs more, he could be quite brilliant. As it is, it seems he loses the audience’s attention far too often, apart from the young girls which I doubt does much for his desire to be taken seriously. (Leah Henson)

Darwin Deez, Academy

After a relatively good and catchy debut, Darwin Deez’ set was bound to be enjoyable. Greeting the crowd with a dance routine and the excitable proclamation “We’re Darwin Deez!,” he has the audience in his hands.

Despite some of the songs sounding rather samey, the routines are incredibly entertaining and definitely the most fun way I’ve seen a band switch guitars. Deez goes on to promote his mixtape, ‘Wonky Beats’, with an amusing rap that while perhaps not performed in all seriousness, suggests that Deez is an incredibly talented man. Every second of their set is a joy to watch. (Leah Henson)

Is Tropical, Club Academy

It’s not often a music review starts with “it would be slightly unfair to review the music,” but this one needs that. Fresh, but not sated, from destroying Cults, the Club Academy sound guy has his wicked way with London trio Is Tropical’s output. The majority of the set passes without note, clear and perky songs succumbing to the sludge of sound they find themselves in, early singles such as ‘When o’ When’ drifting by and out through the doors, followed by half the audience.

Three guys in outlaw-esque mouth-covering bandanas politely but with increasing frustration pointing to the instruments with a “for the love of God turn this up / down,” glare is a strange sight. One that is blown away when the guitarist himself goes up to the booth, re-levels everything and pulls a fantastic final showing from the brink of oblivion. With power and vigour Is Tropical deliver their fantastic single ‘The Greeks’ before closing the set with raucous ‘Seasick Mutiny,’ leaving only a taste of what could have been a truly special showing. (Matthew Davies)

We Are Scientists, Academy 2

We Are Scientists songs may not delight or excite the way they did half a decade ago, but there can’t be much argument that they’re one the best indie-rock bands of recent memory. The same can be said of their live appearances: tight setlists full of jaunty guitars and singalong choruses, and perhaps most entertaining of all, the chemistry between the two main men makes them one of the most unashamedly fun bands to watch. This is what I expected and this is what they deliver: a good performance that won’t change my life. This is the charm of We Are Scientists in a nutshell. They’re far too bright, talented and professional to be anything other than good, though I don’t see what would elevate them beyond that. But hey, there’s worse things than be called bright, talented, professional and likeable in the same review. (Matthew Davies)