There is a 1970′s Hammer movie called When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth which portrayed humans and dinosaurs living side by side and young virgins offered up for sacrifice.
The only dinosaurs we witnessed at Mad Hatters in Inverness on Friday 19th September were some young lads called Miniature Dinosaurs playing quirky fun and thoroughly enjoyable pop. We are pretty sure there were no virgins present either.
Prior to the Dinos roaring onto the stage came a swaggering indie rock ‘n’ roll set from Highland band City In Surveillance. There seemed to be a new confidence about the band who have had a successful year with their YouTube video The Dirt gaining almost 3,000 views along with appearances at Ironworks in Inverness and their festival debut at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. Lead singer Rhys ended their set by toasting a drink to the crowd before stepping off the stage and heading to the bar leaving the band to wrap up. Actually we never saw him at the bar again so he could have just buggerd off leaving the band to pack up!
Now, we have seen our favourite pals from Stirling, Miniature Dinosaurs on several occasions and each time they roar louder. On this occasion they showcased some brilliantly infectious new tracks that at some point very soon are going to be soaked up by the masses. Refreshingly they are not your archetypal indie band as they demonstrate on their new bouncy indie pop EP Turn It On which they are currently promoting on a headline tour of Scotland.
Are they a four piece or a three piece? The question was answered fully tonight with the fourth dinosaur in the form of the rare Andrew McAllistorus, a harmless herbivore normally found roaming the grass plains with Brazil Exists and last seen in the Highlands chasing Frightened Rabbit. On stage Miniature Dinosaurs delivered an impressive set that easily justified last year’s nomination for Best Live Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. Just a word of warning to the band: you may need bigger stages in the future, not just to accommodate your stadium friendly sound but to contain Alban’s moves. He swings his bass around the stage like a Jedi knight taking on the galactic empire!
Their Turn It On EP, features the recent radio friendly single Lemonade, alongside new tracks Lip Sync, Next of Kin and Turn It On. The EP is released via Integrity Records on CD on 5 November but is available to download now from iTunes, Amazon, and all other interweb digital stores. If you make it to one of their gigs do visit their merch stand. You won’t miss it!
Listen to our recent interview with Miniature Dinosaurs here.
Dinosaurs rule!
Shitty Instagram photo © Netsounds Unsigned