Live Review: Dolores Forever – 19th June 2024 – Moth Club, London, UK
3 min read
The Dolores Forever Summer Party certainly lived up to its name. After a long cold June, the weather finally seems to be heating up and with it the atmosphere (and temperature) in Moth Club. A renovated working men’s club in Hackney was the ideal setting for the alt-pop duo, with its glitter ceilings and quirky vintage signage perfectly suiting their indie aesthetic. Dolores Forever has spent 2024 touring the UK opening for Orla Gartland. Now returning to London ahead of their new album, the pair were met with a sold-out show, and a crowd of enthusiastic fans.
Opening with Why Are You Not Scared Yet, an infectious anthem about climate anxiety and quarter-life crises, Dolores Forever wasted no time in starting the party. Dressed in their trademark long dresses, the duo led the crowd in a chant of the chorus. By the end of the first song, the temperature had already taken a rise and onstage fans added an improvised windswept effect.
The star song of the night was their super-popular Someday Best, with its refrain of “shut up and eat the pasta”. The phrase is emblazoned across the merchandise for sale at the show and it was impossible to resist joining in on the chant. Their hit song Conversations and surprisingly positive Funeral were also standouts. They performed a medley of their fun track Love Me Sad and Go Your Way by Fleetwood Mac. A tribute to the band that inspired them, and a nod to their description as “Fleetwood Mac without the Husbands”
The small venue meant that the gig had a very intimate and laid-back feel. The band passed around disposable cameras to the audience encouraging us to take photos of them and each other, a nice touch that lent the set a very personal feel. It also meant that the band had a chance to perform an acoustic version of their fan-favourite song Kilimanjaro. The crowd fell silent and the unaltered voices of the pair were loud enough to fill the room.
They performed several new songs from their new album It’s Nothing to accompany a reveal of the September 27th release date. The enthusiasm and excitement for the album were obvious amongst the crowd, who cheered loudly at the announcement. Among the new songs, Concrete stood out, a wildly catchy track that had the crowd singing along despite not being available to listen to it ahead of the show.
The performance of the new songs increased anticipation and excitement for their upcoming album in September. The duo announced that as they embark on a new era this would be the last chance to hear some of their older songs live. With the pair next set to appear at Wilderness Festival in August, and Is Nothing being released in September, the summer party seemed to be kicking off what could be their biggest year yet.
Set list:
Why are you not scared yet?
Baby Teeth
Concrete
Someday Best
Go Fast Go Slow
Split Lip
Good Time All The Time
Rothko
Kilimanjaro (acoustic)
Love you Sad/Go Your Own Way
Funeral
When I say So
Not Now Kids
Conversations
Party In My Mind
