LIVE REVIEW: Dinosaur Pile-Up, The Xcerts, Snake Eyes, Electric Ballroom, London, 13/09/2025
Photo Credit: Rob Tilbury
On a night where there are multiple great shows taking place across London and in particular Camden, those who aren’t at the sold out Turnover show at the Roundhouse are probably at the sold out Dinosaur Pile-Up show at Electric Ballroom just like us. Tonight was the last show of their headline run and having heard very good things about previous shows, this look set to be a great night of live music.
Opening across the tour are grit-pop duo snake eyes and having seen them live before we were ready for the rowdy fun they would no doubt bring. Kicking into action with Lean, there was no warm up; it was pure fun from the onset. Jim Heffy with a power stare and his raw vocals during Hottest Day On Record takes to working his way across the stage to whip the crowd into a frenzy. Giving us a little breather or so we thought was Another World, their take on a love song with driving drums from Thomas Coe-Brooker with some very delicate strikes where he looks oh so proud with himself.
snake eyes aren’t a duo to shy away from shouting out the important issues, No Cars and Hug Me; touching on two very different issues are examples of this. The former tells of those who don’t care about the world and the mess they make it, as Heffy gets down within the crowd to make sure everyone is listening, jumping and giving them all their energy. They aren’t just preaching about taking action, they’re doing it, having donated proceeds from Hottest Day on Record to Greenpeace/Music Declares and even teamed up with BEEVIVE. The duo switch it up too, Coe-Brooker’s spitting vocals taking lead stage and Jim’s drum skills being shown off during the track. ‘I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to do the job I love again and now we’re playing Electric Ballroom‘, explained Jim before Hug Me about his experience with anxiety. A short TED talk about the state of the world later from Coe-Brooker donning a Palestine football shirt was the reminder we needed to look after ourselves, our loved ones and our body and mind. Older track song Scuttlebug is angry, it’s the heaviest of the set but it’s the perfect mosh pit time with the crowd happily obliging.
Closing the set with Skeletons, singing of equality as we really are all just skeletons underneath is a strong punch to round off their set. This new era of snake eyes just works oh so well live, from small local venues to here tonight this song is constantly a singalong earworm. snake eyes aren’t a new band by any means, but they’re a band who have never quite gained the recognition they deserve with their debut album Cash Rich finally out next year and after some lineup changes, the future looks promising.
2025 marks ten years of The Xcerts album There Is Only You providing the perfect chance to play a number of these older tracks live at their shows during the year. They are a band we’ve been following for a good while so we know how they are always a delightful live treat with this looking unlikely to change tonight. Opening with Live Like This taken from said album, there’s a real vibrant energy both on and offstage from the beginning which continues as Kids on Drugs turns up the rock as the crowd enthusiastically get involved with the clap along bridge. The trio also highlight other eras of their discography including We Are Gonna Live which sees vocalist Murray Macleod whipping the crowd into a frenzy and giving off rockstar energy prancing across the stage and throwing in some high kicks for good measure.
In a rollercoaster setlist moment, we went from their heaviest number Slackerpop to the slowest, most sincere and emotive of the set in Crisis in The Slow Lane. Having heard this track live many times before, there was a true magic about it tonight, with fans scattered throughout the audience when chanting along to ‘we all say we are tired of being low’ it was obvious how moved the band were by this reaction. We looked across the stage to see a beaming Jordan Smith and Tom Heron taking in every moment from behind the drum kit. As their set began to draw to a close, at times it felt as if this was a headline show for the band with the atmosphere in the room hitting incredible highs, we couldn’t wait to see the energy peak during DPU later in the night. A hard hitting closing duo of anthemic Feels Like Falling in Love, taken from one of our favourite albums of all time Hold On To Your Heart, this is The Xcerts at their finest.
One final quick move into GIMME, it was an explosive finish as Macleod made his way across the stage like a circus ringleader making sure all eyes were on him. Letting fans know they’ll see them real soon, we can’t help but wonder what’s next from the trio…
Last month Dinosaur Pile-Up released their latest album I’ve Felt Better, their first in six years and tonight it was about to be showcased to a packed out Electric Ballroom. The heat was rising, the anticipation mounting and as (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!) rang out over the speakers, it was time. Kicking off with ‘bout to Lose It released in March as their first new single in five years, Matt Bigland’s vocals rang out over the crowd as a wild light show lit up the venue. It was strangely cathartic chanting along to ‘I think I’m on the edge ‘Bout to lose my head’. With five studio albums behind them, the band took the chance to take fans on a journey through their discography over the course of the seventeen song set giving something for all emotions and vibes too.
Stupid Heavy Metal Broken Hearted Loser Punk felt like an out of control train, it was a little messy, wonderfully chaotic and the instrumental section allowed Jim Cratchley and Mike Sheils to bring the punk-rock edge to the venue. Haunting, Peninsula slows things down once again before the singalong chorus comes in, crowd surfers take to the skies and nobody needs to be told to clap along to the track. It’s a theme with all DPU tracks, that the hooks are just there to get wedged your brain and whether this is your first time or you fiftieth time seeing them live you’ll be singing along before the night is out as seen with Celebrity Mansions and I’ve Felt Better.
Double whammy Sick of Being Down and Round The Bend feels like a turning point in the set where the chaos really does begin. The heavy breakdown instrumentals, pits opening up and the trio showing off their melodic abilities. Round The Bend sees further crowd participation with fans on shoulders, a check in from Matt about whether they’re ready to sing… they weren’t ‘this thing must be fucking broken’ before a second attempt was executed perfectly to their delight. Having experienced health challenges over the last few years, the love and appreciation the band in particular Matt has for their fans is so special. Clearly touched by the reaction from the crowd tonight, Bigland frequently took a chance to thank London ‘This is fucking crazy. London you are blowing our minds’.
Love’s The Worst taken from their latest album, is one which saw fans slowing down to a sway. There were moments of a more reserved appreciation in particular with new album tracks which just haven’t got quite the love yet. Acknowledging the tricky few years the band have faced, it’s been great to see them back at their best and like they never went away. Taking to centre stage in front of the simplistic Dinosaur back drop, Matt shouted out his favourite track I Don’t Love Nothing and Nothing Loves Me lapping up every bit of love received from the crowd.
Their cover of Run D.M.C’s It’s Tricky might not have been their most rehearsed track (their words), but the crowd single handedly carried this one as requested by Matt. Drinks flew through the air, it was a fun party and it was a punchy Saturday night anthem which didn’t see anyone standing still avoiding singing along. From the new to My Rock ‘n’ Roll from their 2010 debut album Growing Pains, nothing was held back by either the band or the crowd prior to them rounding off the main part of their set.
Nobody was ready to say goodbye to the band tonight, Thrash Metal Cassette, Big Dogs and Back Foot were the triple threat encore to round off the night. Ending on the highest of highs with Back Foot, the spoken word twinged track, saw crowdsurfers, sincere thanks and the closing of a great night from a band performing like their lives depended on it.
We’ll say it now, this tour line-up is one of our favourites of the year. From start to finish it was a showcase of live music done right, an audience willing to listen and get on board whether it was their favourite band or one they were being introduced to tonight. With an electrifying light show and slick musicianship which drove the show through, we don’t think we’ll be seeing DPU in venues this size for much longer.
Written By: Nicola Craig
