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AUSTIN, TX- I was fortunate to catch The Dumes multiple times during my trip to SXSW this year, and they never once disappointed. There’s something about their soul-punching brand of rock ‘n’ roll that evokes evergreen icons like Sonic Youth but with a refreshing dose of scrappy indie spirit akin to bands like Mannequin Pussy . They somehow feel equally at home tearing up a packed garage or commanding a stadium stage.
As soon as The Dumes walked onto the stage at Mohawk, you could feel the curiosity buzzing in the crowd. As an Angeleno myself, I was stoked to kick off my South By experience with a local band. From the first strum of Peter Racine’s wailing guitar, I felt an immediate jolt of energy — a shot of adrenaline that was much needed after a long day of travel and badge pickups.
The band’s chemistry was undeniable; their set was tight in the way that only comes from real camaraderie and countless hours playing together. What particularly stood out was the contrast between the band’s wild, unhinged enthusiasm and lead singer Elodie Tomlinson’s simmering, focused rage. I mean this as the highest compliment: while her bandmates thrashed around her in a beautiful, chaotic whirl, Elodie stayed grounded. Every movement she made — a pointed finger, a swung fist — felt deliberate, a precise and cathartic release. It was as if she wasn’t just performing for the audience — she was confronting them.
For someone like me, who struggles with confrontation, there was an undeniable sense of wish fulfillment in watching Elodie command the stage with such seething control. She engaged the crowd with a laser focus, as if each person she sang to was the jerk who’d wronged her — and now they were getting exactly what they deserved.
Meanwhile, the rest of the band fulfilled their roles to perfection. The guitars were gloriously noisy, distorted, and laced with a deep sense of ’90s nostalgia. Bassist Liam McCormack kept a frenzied energy onstage but never sacrificed the steadiness of his bass lines. Drummer Chris Dunn anchored everything with thunderous force, hitting his kit with a ferocity that was genuinely reminiscent of the late, great Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters fame.
The set gave me everything I needed from a rock show: it was loud, in-your-face, and unapologetically raw. Highlights included the grungy, shout-along anthem “That’s Bad” and their brutal new single “You’re a Letdown.” Both songs captured the emotional bloodletting and melodic punch that make The Dumes a band to watch. If you’re into no-frills rock — the kind that doesn’t beg for approval but demands your full attention — you’re going to love The Dumes. Listen to their music below.
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CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE ACTS WE CAUGHT AT SXSW!
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LIVE CLIPS
The Dumes Ignite SXSW With Blazing Rock Energy and Raw Emotional Powe
