Ditz @ Brudenall Social Club, Leeds (26.03.25)

April 1, 2025 Phil Brown noise rock, post punk 0 Comments

Every time I step in this legendary venue it is never lost on me how many great bands have graced the stage at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. Having never seen Ditz before, but the latest record Never Exhale is still standing tall as my album of the year so far, I had high hopes that this gig would be added to the list of amazing shows I’ve had the privilege of attending here.

As the lights dimmed and the energy in the room was undeniable, you could sense we’d all just experienced the calm before the storm. Emerging on stage, Ditz with unmistakable “Welcome to Brudenell” painted in the background, they wasted no time in getting down to business with a rage that left the room shaking and the crowd churning from the first note.

I have been to some loud gigs in my life but this band has challenged my perception of what true noise is. Rarely does a bass steal the show, but with the skill in which Caleb plays it was hard to not be captivated by the intensity of the reverb-driven sound he was producing. This coupled with a powerful performance from Sam on drums carried each track with just raw aggression allowing Anton and Jack to tie it all together on guitar. Lead singer Cal made their presence felt straight away and as they went on it only grew.

With a jam-packed set, the intensity of this Brighton five-piece did not let up for a second; the entire was a powder keg ready to explode. Highlights included ‘Smells Like Something Died In Here’, which saw Cal stalk around the crowd as the pressure built with every line. Not many artists can command an audience the way Cal did. Other highlights for me included the lead single from their latest record Never Exhale, ‘Space/Smile’. This track sent the audience into a frenzy, smashing together as the band never missed a beat. Even slowing down meant nothing, reducing tempo didn’t dial back the ferocity of their performance.

It is evident that Ditz love to perform, their passion is infectious and could be felt by everyone in the room. Playing for over 70 minutes, there was no let up in their relentless pursuit of chaos, from their opening bars to static-laden close this was a show that will live long in my memory.