The Dillinger Escape Plan

“If I show you my boobs will you buy something?” Wh-HUH? I’ve barely put one foot inside Rock City and I’m being offered all kinds of visual delights by a somewhat familiar DEP merch girl. Well, I guess it’s worth a try. Not only does she proudly exhibit her enhanced jugs but when I later recall seeing her on the *Troma *stage at the LA warped tour (where she also popped em out) I return to find her completely topless! Tut tut, what _would _your mother say?

Well, fortunately, there was another attraction here tonight and with the small downstairs room filling to capacity it appears The Dillinger Escape Plan’s incredible performance and onstage antics at Reading festival has intrigued a few people, although those anticipating a repeat of the old ‘dump on a towel, put in bag and throw to crowd’ incident will be sadly disappointed.

However, DEP don’t need little gimics to put on a good show and tonight their technical proficiency is as spellbinding as ever. Looking slightly fatigued having just returned from playing Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Holland (that’s since _their Reading/Leeds appearances!!) the band still make full use of the limited space onstage, flaying their instruments around to the likes of _‘Jim Fear’ _and ‘The Running Board’ _their scalic wizardry and head-pickling syncopation being tackled with unbelievable confidence.

An extended stage time allows for the addition of older song and undisputed Dillinger classic ‘The Mullet Burden’ _as well as their Aphex Twin **cover **‘Come To Daddy' which also appeared on their Chrome Saint Magnus 7" _'Before The Ball Drops'.

Their *System of a Down *support slots may not be enough to break them into the mainstream but with music this extreme and mathematical I’m sure the Dillinger fanatics wouldn’t want it any other way.