LIVE REVIEW: The Dollyrots & Don’t Panic @ King Tut’s, Glasgow

Having hosted some of the best and brightest of alternative music over the years, King Tut’s tonight is home to the pop-punk tag team of THE DOLLYROTS and DON’T PANIC. The co-headline duo couldn’t be further in experience of the UK as DON’T PANIC hit these shores for the first time while touring veterans THE DOLLYROTS will be well known to anyone who has frequented a BOWLING FOR SOUP show over the years. King Tut’s is always a great venue and the vibe is clear from the second you step foot into the bar. A fun night of pop-punk lays ahead. 

DON’T PANIC and THE DOLLYROTS have not come alone as the task of warming up the Glasgow crowd falls upon upbeat Southampton pop-punkers ROYALS. The band have been on the go since 2019 and this show is their first time in Scotland. With the two headliners leaning more into the punk side of pop-punk, ROYALS are definitely on the other side of that spectrum. Catchy hooks and punchy melodies are what this band are all about and it comes across loud and clear in a live setting. Vocalist Luke Smithson has an infectious energy and does not stop moving for the 25 minute set. His voice struggles to keep up with the rigorous schedule but he powers through and puts on a great performance, if he hadn’t mentioned it you wouldn’t have noticed. Playing through their catalogue of catchy pop-punk tunes with Home, Let Me Go and Fair-Weather Friend all getting an outing. A very strong set from a relatively new band on the scene. 

Rating: 8/10

In what seemed a slightly odd move given the vast array of THE DOLLYROTS merch in the venue tonight, the Florida based duo are up next and the excitement is palpable. As mentioned previously, THE DOLLYROTS have toured the UK a fair amount over the years picking up a very loyal following and the room is full from wall to wall. Opening with the infectious I Do which sets the scene for 45 minutes of fun pop-punk madness. The energy keeps coming as they move into the huge hit My Best Friend’s Hot which has the whole crowd singing at the top of their lungs. 

Their 2019 single Everything takes us into our first break of the set where the band’s charisma comes to light. Kelly Ogden talks to the crowd about their expectation that no one in Glasgow liked them which couldn’t be further from the truth. Some funny back and forth highlights exactly what THE DOLLYROTS are all about. Mega catchy Twist Me To The Left snaps right back into the swing of things. The set ploughs on with a flurry of fun tracks including the punk injected cover of MELANIE’s Brand New Key. 

As the set reaches its twilight, we get an appearance from River and Daisy, the duo’s children. River gives us an impromptu stand-up routine with material such as “why do cows wear cowbells? Because their horns don’t work”. Easily the coolest thing to happen on the show. After having to cut a song for the aforementioned comedy set, THE DOLLYROTS end the night with Satellite and Because I’m Awesome, both huge hits for the band. The crowd absolutely ate this up and were loving every second of it. This is clearly a band that have been doing this for a long time and have mastered the craft. 

Rating: 9/10

As mentioned earlier it seemed like this was a real THE DOLLYROTS heavy crowd and that became clear as people started heading for the exit following their set. This was unfortunate as they missed a great show from DON’T PANIC. Those who did stick around were treated to a pop-punk masterclass from the Pennsylvania natives who were playing in Scotland for the first time ever. The band pull from influences like FOO FIGHTERS and MILLENCOLLIN which you can hear in their sound. Anthemic choruses and bouncy verses keep the crowd gripped throughout. 

Opening with the nostalgic Watership Down, DON’T PANIC are clear on their intentions of bringing the party to King Tut’s and keeping up the energy that THE DOLLYROTS had built. Frontman Ted Felicetti commands the attention of the room throughout with classic pop-punk vocals and a great stage presence. Let It Go and Sheep In Wolves Clothing carry the set along with more catchy pop-punk. New single Just a Call Away gets an outing for one of the first times and it is somehow even more anthemic in a live setting. A short break where Felicetti discusses some alleged Scottish pastimes which won’t be repeated outside of King Tut’s.

A cover of THE VASELINES‘ Molly’s Lips moves the set along as songs like What’s a Guy To Do? and No Time for Second Chances get a big reaction from the Glasgow fans. The band break into one of their most popular singles Friends Make Better Enemies which continues the theme of fast and bouncy pop-punk. As the set comes to a close, Felicetti addresses the crowd one final time and they play their big hit Fall of ‘99, another nostalgic anthem straight out of a 2000s movie soundtrack. 

This was a great first outing for DON’T PANIC in Scotland and you can see them getting a good response upon their return!

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Glasgow from Kyle Watt here: 

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