Dr Diablo and The Rodent Show
Dr Diablo and The Rodent Show
at the Scream and Shake Horror Cafe Bar,
Blackpool Rebellion Fringe
Saturday 3rd August 2024
Tonight I’m back in Blackpool (with glorious weather) and made up to be here. After missing out on Dr Diablo and The Rodent Show at the recent Boneyard Weekender here, I’m keen to make up for it with tonight’s headline. Bonus – I get to see The Pink Diamond Revue again too!
The Rebellion Punk Festival here is iconic of course, but the fringe events here are just as well known and popular as the official festival now. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get to some intimate and wild gigs in the most original settings, tonight’s being no exception as our venue, it’s safe to say, is pretty unusual, a real delight. Fans of horror, the macabre and the weird and wonderful need to look in on this brilliant place! Complete with its own horror-themed cocktails menu (we tried them, they were glorious) which is always a winner. Severed prosthetic heads hang from the ceiling; cages contain waxwork zombies scattered among vintage, ox blood red armchairs; and dripping blood paint effects adorn the walls. A life-size Freddy Kruger model stands opposite our merch stand tonight, whilst the clown from IT stares out into the bustling street from the window. Honestly, this place is brilliant and very quirky – it definitely differs from the norm and regularly holds live music events, highlighting the diverse and wonderful as well as local talent. During the daytime, our venue doubles as a cafe serving horror-themed milkshakes, cakes and coffees which look incredible!
Sadly, due to a commute from Warrington and getting caught in tailbacks once in Blackpool, we missed the support acts. From chatting to members of the crowd I’m informed both Toria and the Terror and Hot Pink Sewage both brought the wilds and truly set the scene.
(The Pink Diamond Revue_Cedit Andrew Lawrence Photography)
Support: The Pink Diamond Revue
Tim Lane, Rob Courtman-Stock
It’s dark now in our venue, with the most psychedelic, colourful lights, added to by the projections of mixed media clips and swirling patterns on the backdrop on stage and the soaring temperature within these walls; it makes for the best kind of gig environment. As our Uber cool set begins, it instantly goes off in here. A musical ignition of mighty proportions. The entire crowd are jumping – no, bouncing! With trippy LSD sounds, electro with a retro feel, yet crisp, cool and of this time. The beats are steady, rhythmic almost cathartic. Such a vibrancy to the sounds being created tonight, it switches from real dance – I get Prodigy, then Chemical Bros feels – then the hooks are Duane Eddy-like, 50s style, then become jagged and electric. It’s euphoric brilliance! Stage presence is off the scale, very stylistic and menacing cool; the atmosphere created is special I get eerie Blue Velvet feels (as in the cult film): captivating yet strange, creepy yet cool overall – a feeling that’s engulfing, you just want to be drawn into this.
In a packed out crowd, dancing nonstop to the most uplifting, atmospheric sounds and in the bizarre, horror-filled surroundings which seem to add to the strangeness, which is of course what works so well about this band: strange cool, ‘tripadyllic’, we actually do feel like we’ve entered an altered state. The Pink Diamond Revue manage to musically lift us – we’re high on music – it’s almost spiritual in fact. 100 % everyone needs to see this band!
Headline: Dr Diablo and The Rodent Show
Dr Diablo, Ratfink the Rodent
In a total direction change, both musically and performance-wise our headline act now takes to the stage; if it were possible it’s got even more packed in our intimate venue now. In an explosion of sound permeating every inch of space, our rock n roll duo begins. It’s seismic, an explosion of sound and feels. Dressed as a skeleton, complete with horror make-up and leather cap, our frontman rips up the stage, singing to skulls, and interacting with crowd members – a full-on ringmaster of the bizarre. It’s utterly brilliant! Dr Diablo in full mad scientist get up keeps up a sinister presence from his keyboard and is equally commanding in stage persona! This bonkersness fits perfectly with this crazy wild rock n roll punk train. Vocal is characterful, growling with angry punk cries, deep and characterful then grating. As a frontman, Ratty really pulls out all the stops and gets this horror show on the road, not still for a second, covering every inch of the stage and swinging the mic then really acting up the strange concept. A bewildering, bamboozling whirlwind of sights and sounds and a delight in every sense. You can’t fail to be breath taken by this and submit to its crazy wildness.
(Dr Diablo and The Rodent Show_Cedit Andrew Lawrence Photography)
Speaking of wild, it’s gone full-on mosh pit in here now, the waves of music and feels spreading out to every member of this mesmerised crowd, have become crashing tidal waves of punk horror magic and the entire venue is bobbing ferociously along with it! The punk style and horror outfits really add to the feel, bringing even more atmosphere into the mix. This stuff hits us right between the eyes, it’s one hell of a show and completely all-consuming. Impactful, it wraps you in its alt-horror rock world and then leaves you feeling musically discombobulated – but in the best possible way.
I’m left thinking “Did that all just happen? And when can I see this again?” Utterly spectacular and a must-do again for me as soon as possible. A must-see band! Brimming with originality and entertainment.
Review by Janet Harding
Photography by Andrew Lawrence
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