Rough Trade was host to Dusty 4 Track last weekend as they celebrated the vinyl release of their debut album How Did I Get Here? with support from Jinda Biant and RonnieToldUs. Sophie Gargett went along to check it out...
The night was presented by staunch Notts promoters I'm Not From London, which always forecasts a good evening. Opening for the band, we had Jinda Biant bringing some first-class foot stomping blues to Rough Trade. Along with a lovely, light stage presence that welcomed the crowd, Jinda’s musical prowess seems abundant; sliding guitar riffs to sweetly lure us in with crystal clear vocals telling of love, loss and heartache.
For Glad You’re Gone (dedicated to ex-friends and lovers) Jinda did attempt to get the crowd to sing along, yet I must say matching his soaring vocals was somewhat of a strain on less-talented vocal chords. While a time-honoured genre, Blues can become a little predictable, but Jinda’s performance created something thoroughly enjoyable to behold, and I’d definitely like to catch him playing in a more intimate venue.
Next up, for something completely different, was duo Ronnietoldus. Mixing spoken word rap with late-night lo-fi synthy beats, I heard echoes of Tricky and Anthony Szmeirek and was immediately interested. A bit of background noise in Rough Trade occasionally drowned the lyrics, but I made a mental note to check these guys out when I got home and have been enjoying them since.
Poetic ramblings about dead pets, the Mona Lisa and being “actually tired” over dancey beats seemed to resonate well with the audience, but recent single Mash Up and an updated cover of Fit But You Know It which I didn’t know we needed, definitely secured them some new fans. For those intrigued, head to their EP launch on 30 May at Rough Trade.
For those partial to something husky via the likes of Tom Waits, C.W. Stoneking or J.J. Cale, I highly recommend Will Jeffery’s whiskey-and-honey soaked vocals, which I would happily eat straight from the jar with a spoon if it were possible.
Finally - and I mean finally, because this album has been long-awaited - Dusty 4 Track took to the stage for the main course of the night. These guys have been busy gigging and perfecting their tunes for several years, and their loyal audience have been hungry since they dropped the sun-soaked Metronome back in 2023. With Rough Trade at full-capacity, tonight was the first chance to snap up the vinyl edition of debut album How did I Get Here? which is set to be released digitally on 11 June.
I’ve caught Dusty quite a few times (including a stripped back set the weekend previous at The Lincolnshire Poacher which served as a tasty appetiser) and while they always rouse a high-spirited atmosphere, tonight was something else. Joining main duo Benjamin James (organ/guitar) and Will Jeffery (guitar/vocals) were Russ Clarke (bass guitar) and Zachary Becker (drums) to add a fuller, deeper sound to the usual two-some, and it was clear they were having fun on stage, which I always like to see.
Having recently had a sneaky listen to the album for LeftLion, I deduced that with this album the boys were taking listeners on a rolling road through the highs and lows of a debauched drinking session - and the subsequent consequences. This isn’t just reflected in the lyrical storytelling, but also in Will Jeffery’s whiskey-and-honey soaked vocals, which I would happily eat straight from the jar with a spoon if it were possible. For those partial to something husky via the likes of Tom Waits, C.W. Stoneking or J.J. Cale, I highly recommend.
The set included familiar recent singles Waster and The Cross, plus the aforementioned Metronome, which I defy anyone to listen to without a smile crossing their face. But there’s not one straight mood with Dusty, and each song swathed my imagination with arcane cinematic narratives and pictures before snapping me back into the room; the slinking, sneaking sounds of The Garden felt like a fantastical adventure through misty swamps of Deep South, while How Did I Get Here? felt reminiscent of a regret-tinged hangover, laced with sophistication before exploding into the mother of all riffs.
Perhaps with it being less familiar, but for me, the highlight of the set was perhaps the sexy and soulful Stay, which saw Benjamin take the lead with some outstanding vocals and blues guitar. Then, to top it off, we were treated to the rip-roaring Get Down, which inevitably got even the most tired feet dancing once again.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening to celebrate one of the most interesting albums to come out of Notts in a long time, I’m already anticipating what tales might be told on their next release. Hop to it, and thanks for the music boys!
Dusty 4 Track played at Rough Trade on Friday 11 April 2025, with support from Jinda Biant and RonnieToldUs. How Did I get Here is out now on vinyl, available to buy here. Look out for the digital release on 11 June 2025 - pre-orders available here.
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