Trapped in a bubble of bad sound, the feedback roars above the crowd at the very start, thus making The Dough Rollers’ first time in Glasgow just ever so slightly awkward. Largely unknown in the UK to the point that you can only buy their music as a download, they have, to their serious credit, bagged a high profile slot by playing under Queens Of The Stone Age. Some supports get watched from the bar while others don’t even register anything other than maybe a quick glance over a disinterested shoulder. But, when a headliner such as this comes to town, you know they know something so pints are bought, ears are opened and by the end of the gig, curiosity has thankfully won out big time.
With Glasgow, a city that’s pretty much open-minded to anything, the crowd might have been quickly mistaken with what to expect by the first song, had their been any pre-gig research for tunes on Amazon etc. Their debut release has a good-times gospel feel, stripped back to the basics and rooted in sun-going-down songs that are more akin to ‘Rosalie’ by Muddy Waters or ‘Pick A Bale Of Cotton’ by Leadbelly, rather than the upbeat skiffle of Lonnie Donegan. It’s a great album. However, live, it is totally different. Instead, they come armed and fully amped up.
The Dough Rollers hint at being a rockabilly band but head more towards the door marked Johnny Shines backed by The Blue Moon Boys. And they’re blowing everyone away. It’s a simple setup. Four young guys in their 20s, wearing ties and vintage suits, having a good time, laying the blues on ‘Little By Little’ while going for a pure 50s Rock’n’Roll sound on ‘Honey Hush’. The venue floor, at the start, quickly went from a sprinkling of a few dozen here and there with many heads turned, to a respectfully busy and truly enjoying it crowd that would’ve happily shouted for an encore had they been the headliner. Some supports, they just know how to entertain.
(The Dough Rollers can next be seen in Scotland supporting Korn on Wed 8th June at Glasgow O2 Academy)