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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Tess Reidy

One to watch: Fat Dog

five people, three with unsmiling faces visible, one wearing a dog face mask, one with a bandana tied round their face. one of the unmasked ones is holding a small dog
Fat Dog. Photograph: Pooneh Ghana

South London-based Fat Dog are the latest band signed by Domino, the label behind acts such as Wet Leg, Arctic Monkeys and Hot Chip. Formed during lockdown, the quintet have built a word-of-mouth reputation thanks to their boisterous live performances: moshpits are commonplace, and drummer, Johnny “Doghead” Hutchinson, plays in a latex dog mask. Their music has been described by Rolling Stone as dance, punk, klezmer and “just about everything else”. Indeed, it’s difficult to place: there are elements of Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode crossed with European dance sounds.

Fat Dog’s three singles have been written by frontman and guitarist Joe Love, and co-produced by super producer James Ford (Gorillaz, Pet Shop Boys). Last year’s debut, King of the Slugs, is a chaotic, barnstorming number you can see causing mayhem at festivals. On the intense Running, Love’s commanding vocals have more than a hint of metal as he intones: “I said wake me up, wake me up when the shooting starts.”

With their debut album, WOOF, due in September following a string of live dates, 2024 looks like being Fat Dog’s year. Synth player Chris Hughes told DIY magazine: “If people just have a lukewarm response then what’s the point?” He’s not wrong. They’re epic, raucous and ready for a mainstage slot.

Fat Dog tour the UK until 31 August. WOOF is released on Domino on 6 September

Watch the video for All the Same by Fat Dog.
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