We’ve seen a lot of sights on Hanover Street before, some, or most rather, we wish we’d hadn’t. A queue of audiophiles quietly keeping to themselves and avoiding eye contact with the confused looking punters revolving in and out of McCartneys Bar wasn’t one of them before tonight. What has bought these eager audiophiles out and away from the comfort of their home stereos this Tuesday evening? The promise of an exclusive in-store performance and signing from Domino Records hottest new prospect Fat Dog.

The in-store gig is truly booming in Liverpool at the moment. Take a browse on Dice and thanks to the addition of Rough Trade you’ll see we’re spoilt for choice with appealing intimate shows, signings and exclusive editions. In an increasing digital landscape the in-store event fills the desire for first person experience and as well as the joy of holding something physical and limited in your hands.

When it comes to physical media, Fat Dog aren’t here to play. With a couple different vinyl variants as well as the CD on sale here tonight (as price of entry) online the band boast an even larger array of limited editions, including a PS2 style encased CD that we admit looks mint. We’re in the age of the variant and we happen to be all for it!

The flip side of the in-store is that it’s a shorter gig, in a smaller venue, with an earlier stage time and curfew. So as frontman Joe Love grabs the mic, we wait and hope that the more laid back nature of the evening doesn’t dampen the five piece that NME dubbed “2023’s wildest live band.” Thankfully the quintet’s signature presence, honed since their COVID-19 lockdown formation, spreads to fill every corner and crevice of the small space, with Chris Hughes venturing out into the crowd to conduct the now traditional lobster claw hands mosh pit not two songs in.

Debut single King of the Slugs (co-produced by the impressive James Ford) rejects passivity and demands a frenzy from the crowd – or at least, as much of a frenzy as one can muster while cradling a pristine vinyl record like a newborn.

It does make for a peculiar vibe. The inner mosh pit enthusiast clashing with the inner record collector within all of us, an unspoken level of consideration between us in the name of preserving our precious new acquisitions so that they would remain signature worthy come the end of the show. The air crackled with the conflicting desires to let loose and to keep those corners sharp, especially when drummer Johnny “Doghead” Hutchinson, donning his signature latex dog mask, threatened to send vibrations through the floor and into fragile record sleeves.

From the queue for doors, through waiting for them to come on stage and once again as Fat Dog start the sign copies of their already beloved debut album, its the the eclectic nature of their sound that remains the hot topic discussed by groups and couple. Fans debated whether to file WOOF under dance, punk, or klezmer – or perhaps create a new category altogether for this band that cites Nine Inch Nails as an influence, reminds us of The KLF and includes a Benny Benassi and The Biz cover in tonights setlist.

This launch isn’t just a display Fat Dog’s promising future, but the enduring appeal of artist-fan interactions and the allure of holding music in your hands – even if those hands are shaking with the effort of restraining rock ‘n’ roll impulses. As the band gears up for their UK tour, which we cannot wait to see them let loose on, we declare 2024 to be the year of the dog.

Fat Dog are on tour now and throughout autumn/winter. Find dates and tickets here.