Ricky Gervais’ contribution to music has until recently been limited to his less-than-successful university-days band Seona Dancing, but now another band have come along and taken their name, if not their musical inspiration from the comedian. “Does It Offend You, Yeah?” was originally a quote from The Office, but now it means so much more as the name of the electro rock outfit, coincidentally also from Gervais’ hometown of Reading.
Their tour to promote their new album ‘Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You’ came to a close in April at London’s Heaven, under the imposing arches of Charing Cross station in spectacular style. Rarely has a gig had an atmosphere of such joyous and reckless abandon but DIOYY came to party hard and so did their fans. This was a gig of triumph and celebration, not least as it meant the band would finally get a day off. Straight from the first track, the band’s approach was visceral, attacking the audience with sweaty electronic beats and aggressive riffs.
Frontman James Rushent was charismatic and chatted to the audience throughout the hour-long set, his keyboards taking such a beating that keys came loose and were tossed into the front row as souvenirs. Matty Derham and Chloe Duveaux flanked him and have settled into the band incredibly well having joined following the debut album, and really do add an extra dimension to the live show.
Tonight’s support act were punk three-piece Hounds from Essex who couldn’t be further away from a certain faux-reality TV show. Energetic upbeat songs about love lost and fights won with a bassist clearly from the Red Hot Chili Peppers school of funk.
The fans of DIOYY are a mad old bunch, not just the front row, but at least half the venue were dancing, moshing and partying as if their lives depended on it. By the time their set finished with latest single ‘The Monkeys Are Coming’, we were soaked through with sweat, beer, and God knows what else. Does it offend us? Not in the slightest.