It’s London Calling and show six of the Dork Hype List Tour. Like a machine running on bangers and fresh music, we’ve travelled across the land turning venues into bubbling pots of Hype. You’re welcome.
Tonight in London, a sold-out Colours Hoxton overflows with a crowd eager for the buzzy buffet we’re ready to deliver. Welly, Polly Money and The Pill. What more can you ask for?
From the moment The Pill take to the stage, the course for the night is set. They’ve built a reputation for hook perfection and a live show that doesn’t wait for crowds to come onboard – it sweeps them up and fires everything to the moon. Colours Hoxton is packed, with people’s backs to the walls as they put their mark on 2025.
Latest single ‘Money Mullet’ captures the off-kilter fun of The Pill perfectly, cracking lines and rock colliding into one unstoppable force. ‘Woman Driver’ and closer ‘Bale Of Hay’ ripple through the room in a manner most opening bands never see, and teased next single ‘Problem’ makes clear their future steps will be essential. Tonight feels like witnessing the start of a whirlwind, and everyone is diving in with The Pill.
The presence Polly Money exudes is transfixing. With each date of the Hype List Tour, that’s only grown. Tonight is a complete statement of intent that showcases what makes Polly so compelling. At the start of a new chapter, the likes of ‘Anything’ and ‘i’m not proud’ are spellbinding, whilst latest single ‘Milk & Honey’ roars with indie-pop joy.
It all comes together before a packed Colours Hoxton – none more so than with ‘Home Soon’. A stripped-back track with just Polly, her guitar and her voice commanding the room, there’s silence that holds everyone in awe. New tracks. A new era. All Polly Money.
‘Is This The Way To Amarillo’ begins. A plane safety-style warning rings out. The most fun indie-nonsense show is in town and Welly are thriving with the sort of committed crowd they’re destined to see grow. If Bristol was a lightning bolt start to the feverish energy, London tonight is the widescreen fireworks that never relent. ‘It’s Not Like This In France’ and ‘Soak Up The Culture’ spark mosh pits in every direction, for a night that bounces from one unforgettable moment to another.
Welly’s take on feel-good British indie means you can’t be part of their show without feeling at the heart of something jubilant. ‘Shopping’ is drowned out in unison, ‘Cul-De-Sac’ whips into life and the roaring ‘Home For The Weekend’ settles into its role as a future festival anthem. Whether it’s circle pits or laughs ringing out as Welly chat about gap years and front-row outfits, they’ve captured what makes bands great. It’s about revelling in the fun and escaping somewhere else, even if that’s somewhere on the M25 in a banged-out van.
‘Big In The Suburbs’ and a riotous ‘Me And Your Mates’ – which sees an old band member crowd-surf to shake some maracas – seals a night which proves why Welly are indie’s brightest new lights. “Thank you to Dork…” grins Welly. “Feels like we’re applauding our prison warden.” The pleasure is all ours. Get Hyped.
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