Live Review: Dum Dum Girls @ Scala

by | May 3, 2014

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

One thing is sure, Dee Dee Penny of Dum Dum Girls has an attitude. She is going to sing and play her songs her way, dress how she pleases and you had better like it or else. Opening with Mine Tonight from the End of Daze it is easy to spot some of her many influences on the band. The sauntering low light back to the audience style of Jesus and Mary Chain, the brash arrogance of Siouxsie Sioux and the pure selfless pop of Blondie.

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

The set lasted for around 75 minutes, most of their songs are 3 minutes or less so I guess its hard t fill up time but for the really mixed crowd, in age and style, every second was worth it. The lighting was really atmospheric with a neon blue heart taking centre stage, flowers on the amps and mic stands and non stop blue, red and white light.

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Sub-Pop signed the band in 2010 when Dee Dee was more or less a solo act using the name Dum Dum Girls. The shoe-gaze pop she crafted became limited in the bedroom and the band were formed for live dates and new albums. Early lines ups included the woman of many bands Frankie Rose.

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Live they are dressed in black, Dee Dee stunning the crowd with her perfectly taped nipples in a see through top. The rest of the band Malia, Jules and Sandy don’t quite follow suit but Adidas attire and short skirts and suits are adorned perfectly.

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

The highlights go the set are the opening numbers including Bedroom Eyes, The sumptoiusly erotic Wake of You, a cuttingly sharp Rimbaud Eyes, a long time crowd favourite Are You Okay and the heart churningy brilliant Coming Down.

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee Penny, Jules, Sandy and Malia, play the Scala in London on May 1st 2014. (Simon Jay Price)

Review and Photographs: Dum Dum Girls at Scala on 1st May 2014. by Simon Jay Price

 

Sophie Lloyd @ Download Festival XXII - Saturday (Simon Reed)

Saturday In Photos At Download Festival XXII

As Download XXII roared into its second full day, Saturday continued the weekend's adrenaline-fuelled ride with...
Charli xcx @ Lido Festival 2025 (Henry Redcliffe)

Charli xcx’s ‘PARTYGIRL’ Rules The Night At LIDO Festival 2025 — A Euphoric Takeover In East London

East London was ablaze with brat energy on Saturday night as Charli xcx delivered a genre-defying, euphoric headline...
Green Day @ Download Festival XXII - Friday (Simon Reed)

Friday In Photos At Download Festival XXII

The sun rose over Donington Park as Download XXII launched into its first full day of music on Friday, setting the...
Roger Daltrey with The Who - Teenage Cancer Trust @ Royal Albert Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

Roger Daltrey Awarded Knighthood for Services To Music And Charity

Roger Daltrey, legendary frontman of The Who and lifelong champion of young people facing cancer, has officially been awarded a Knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours list for 2025. The honour recognises not only his groundbreaking contributions to British music, but also his tireless work with Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity he has helped elevate to national prominence over the past three decades.

Sophie Grey @ Heilbronn (Kevin Ford)

Sophie Grey Brings ‘Retro Electro’ To The Big Stage With Sting Collab And New Music Video

Armed with a keytar, a singular sonic aesthetic, and an unapologetic love for retro-electro vibes, Sophie Grey is carving her place on the global stage — one synth-heavy track at a time. This summer, the rising artist has not only opened arena shows across Europe but has also shared the stage with none other than Sting, adding her signature flair to performances of The Police classic Spirits In The Material World on his 3.0 tour.

Fiaa Hamilton (Adam Brazier)

Fiaa Hamilton Celebrates Birthday With Empowering New Single ‘Nothing Is Perfect’

Rising pop powerhouse Fiaa Hamilton continues her skyward trajectory with the release of her bold and emotionally resonant new single Nothing Is Perfect, arriving just in time to mark her birthday. The track sees Fiaa cement her growing status as one of 2025’s most compelling new voices in pop, following a breakout year that’s included a New Faces For 2025 nod from The Sun and a performance at TikTok’s Live Fest alongside Jason Derulo and Zara Larsson at London’s iconic Roundhouse.

The Sons Of Guns (Cléa Margaret)

The Sons Of Guns Bring Modern Sunshine To ’70s Folk-Rock With Radiant Debut EP ‘You Shine The Sun’

Emerging from the sun-drenched hills of Nice with roots stretching back to Doncaster and even Bombay, genre-blurring...
Kane Brown (Dennis Leupold)

Kane Brown Drops Summer Anthem ‘2 Pair’ & Gears Up for International Tour

Genre-blending country trailblazer Kane Brown is officially soundtracking your summer with his brand-new single 2...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing