Seeing Dictator live has been written in bold-italic on my wish-list since I first heard them, soon after starting this blog in 2021.
Their music clearly came from the heart, I thought - true, honest art always shows through. There’s attention to detail in their songwriting and arrangements which sets them apar; those little touches of artistry and innovation.
Dictator have spent plenty of time building a reputation and fan base close to home (West Lothian, Scotland) gradually widening their reach with commendable patience. At the same time, they’ve been embraced by many on the new/alt/indie music social media scene, meaning that when they choose to tour further from home, they are embraced and able to fill up their chosen venues. I missed out last time they came down South, and was so happy when they announced their current English tour would call in London (as well as Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester).
At their sold out show at The Water Rats, a brilliant little venue near King’s Cross, support came from three local bands: The Kelly Collective (a very strong opening act who surely should have been higher on the bill: punk-inflected vocals with tightly-delivered ska and rock); Satis Astra (heavy, honest Seattle grunge resurrected for the 2020s); and Walking Through Walls (synth/guitar euphoric alt-rock, with promise but perhaps needing a little more polish and focus).
My expectations for the headliners were high - sometimes a risky stance to take - but oh my gosh I was not disappointed. Without wanting to wear out the superlatives and steal my own thunder, it was exciting, engaging, incredible, phenomenal … all those things, at least.
From that triumphant opening, things only got even better.
The swaggering bounce of ‘Mirror Mirror’ had the packed venue jumping, with Allan on the drums doing a great job at punching out a fat, hip-hop influenced beat with panache. Next up, we were treated to a new and unreleased song, ‘Figure It Out’. It’s a great one, catchy and characteristically clever lyrically. Afterwards, the band told me that they’re trying to make every set of this tour different, including by putting different new songs into each set. "So depending on what gig you are at you’ll have a different experience every time.”
That’s brilliant and really illustrates something of what makes Dictator special - an attention to detail and passion for giving their fans something great every time. Never half-hearted, always giving their all.
More of that in the next song, the anchor of this tour: ‘Rubik’s Cube’. Of course, the band had brought along a real cube, which an audience member was challenged to solve during the song (the person in question didn’t quite make it, but with a bit of help from at least a couple of others, the cube was eventually solved). The song itself was played full on: it became a frenzied, highly charged, satisfying romp of thrumming bass and huge beats. The buzz in the room was fully charged by this point.
It was perfect curation then to move into a quieter section of the set, starting with ‘Moonlight’, a reflective, emotive piece which really suits Michael’s naturally heartfelt vocal style. He moved to the keyboard for this one, backed only with a sparse and muted electric guitar. This was one of those electrifying, rare moments in time which can only come about with just the right conjunction of talented and committed musicians, skilled sound engineering and attentive fans.
Next up, a beautiful and subtle reworking, guitar- rather than piano-focused, of the already intensely beautiful, ‘Lullaby’. This is a song which gives Michael’s heart-grabbing, frequently ethereal vocals space and time to soar. And, on this night, the alternative arrangement provided another example of the thought Dictator put into creating a bespoke experience for their audience.
And then, we reached the peak of this pared-back section, an incredibly intense rendition of ‘Hide and Seek’. Here, we felt all of the energy that had come before being finally released and realised. As Michael eased his way up to the climax of the song, his voice cracking subtly with the expression of emotion, it seems that the energy in the room was focused sharply on one point. The band were clearly enjoying the gig as much as we were. I could tell they were feeling the sort of reciprocal energy that comes when artists and audience properly connect.
After that, there was time for a brief collective breath, and then we got started on the final run: a trio of upbeat songs, full of bounce, and played with cheerful, honest engagement.
On stage, Dictator display confidence without cockiness; boldness without bluster or bullish swagger; passion without sugar-coating. This didn’t come as a surprise to me, given how they engage on social media, but it was awesome to see this in the flesh all the same.
This is a band who are clearly doing what they do for love of the music, while always keeping an eye out for others - whether fans or fellow artists.
As they inevitably get bigger and more well known, I’m sure they’ll stay true to this ethos. It’s in their blood. But I urge you - catch them while you can; while their music is going to be an incredible experience in bigger venues too, don’t miss this lovely and more intimate stage in their development.
Date of gig: 22nd September 2023.
Set list:
Conquistador
Mirror Mirror
Figure it out
Rubik's Cube
Moonlight
Lullaby
Hide and Seek
Days Gone By
Anthem for a Doomed Youth
Enough is Enough
Fin.
Check out Dictator's brilliant back catalogue: