Little Fish, Dial F for Frankenstein, O2 Academy 13.11.10

In subsequent weeks before I wrote this review up, Dial F announced they were to split and, unfortunately, what was planned to be their final show at the Winter Warmer was cancelled due to heavy snow, so this one turned out to be their farewell. Dial F were getting better each time I saw them; Green Day grunge, and sing along na na na bits, singing “dance you f**kers”, memories of Friday night at Truck festival last summer flood back. Dial F were an asset to Oxford music who will be greatly missed by many.
Little Fish are well known for writing dark lyrics about depression, paranoia and suicide, all the real stuff many bands tend to forget.  Adding Ben on Hammond as a permanent feature has pushed them towards a more pop based sound, “Glad eyes up, Sad eyes down” being the latest sing along, but it is now beginning to gel.  Songs like Die Young and Bang Bang go down brilliantly, and the epic Am I Crazy?  creates an inclusivity with a fan base who are the most loyal I know.  There were a few tuner fish incidents, and a little paranoid fish bowl moment, but as JuJu quite rightly points out.. “it’s only a game” and it’s great to see their music back on top form where it belongs.

Trev Williams 

published in OMS 12