Total mayhem, sonic chaos, and a crowd that never stood still—Fat Dog delivered a night to remember.
Fat Dog at Boiler Shop Newcastle | 26.02.25
Invited| Review by V.Brewster
Opening the night was Adult DVD, a band as elusive as they are intriguing. Their set felt like a deliberate act of disorientation, a blend of eerie synths, pulsing bass, and distorted vocals that kept the audience teetering between fascination and unease. Tracks swung between industrial beats and post-punk paranoia, setting the perfect tone for the night ahead. Their closer—a hypnotic, slow-burning track that erupted into a wall of noise—left the crowd buzzing, primed for the chaos that was about to unfold.
As the house lights dimmed, an unexpected yet perfectly theatrical opener filled the room—Luciano Pavarotti’s spine-tingling rendition of Nessun Dorma rang out through the Boiler Shop. The opera classic, grand and dramatic, was an almost surreal way to begin the show, but it set the perfect stage for the storm that was about to hit.
The moment Fat Dog launched into Vigilante, the atmosphere snapped from high-brow theatrics to full-throttle anarchy. From the first distorted riff, the crowd surged forward, a writhing, sweat-soaked mass feeding off the relentless energy pouring from the stage.
Frontman Joe Love, in his usual larger-than-life form, prowled the stage like a man possessed, flipping between guttural roars and hypnotic, chant-like vocals. Dressed in an ushanka hat, white linens and a camo vest, he was both preacher and party leader, orchestrating a night that felt closer to a cult initiation than a standard gig.
The 16-song setlist was relentless. Boomtown followed with a pummeling bassline and glitchy synths, dragging the crowd deeper into Fat Dog’s signature chaos. All the Same sent the energy into overdrive before the band unleashed their now-legendary track, King of the Slugs—a seven-minute behemoth that had the entire venue howling along.
The mid-set selections kept the intensity up, with Call Me If You Want Brat Psy and Clowns blending warped electronics with post-punk attitude, while Pray to That and Bad Dog veered into almost ritualistic, chant-like territory. By the time Closer to God hit, the room was a hurricane of movement—bodies thrashing, limbs flailing, and sweat dripping from every surface.
The final stretch of the night was a masterclass in controlled chaos. Peace Song momentarily slowed the pace, providing a breath before the devastating Wither reignited the frenzy. Fuck Urself felt like a direct attack on anyone standing still, with its brutal tempo and unhinged vocals, while Running closed the show with an all-consuming wave of distorted bliss.
Fat Dog fans—the self-proclaimed “Kennel”—came ready to throw themselves into the moment, and they didn’t disappoint. Mosh pits, crowd-surfing, and impromptu dance-offs erupted throughout the night. It wasn’t just chaos for chaos’ sake—there was a communal energy, a shared understanding that this was a space for pure, unfiltered release. The Boiler Shop, usually known for its controlled industrial charm, felt like it had been hijacked by a hedonistic underground rave.
As the final note of Running rang out and the band walked off, the audience stood there, dazed but euphoric, knowing they had just witnessed something truly special. No encore was needed—Fat Dog had said everything they needed to say, leaving Newcastle with ears ringing, bodies aching, and grins plastered across their faces.
Fat Dog tore the Boiler Shop apart. A masterclass in controlled chaos, their Newcastle show was a testament to why they are quickly becoming one of the UK’s most essential live acts. If you missed it, you missed something unforgettably unique.