VIVID AND VULGAR is: Aaron Scott (vocals), Donald Eric Dando (guitar), Mike Barrett (bass), Dale Bennett (drums)
There is something different about catching a band in a room like Club Dada. It is not oversized, overproduced, or hidden behind layers of distance. It is right there in your face. The lights hit hard, the stage feels close, and every movement from the band carries straight into the crowd. On Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, VIVID AND VULGAR brought that kind of energy to Dallas, turning their set into a raw, heavy, and gritty reminder of why the DFW music scene still has so much life burning inside of it.
This was not one of those sets that needed a bunch of extra polish to make it feel exciting. VIVID AND VULGAR came across as a band that understands the room they are playing in and knows how to make the most out of it. Club Dada gave the performance that tight, intimate edge where you can feel the sweat, the volume, and the attitude from just a few feet away. The room was perfect for the kind of set they delivered — loud, close, aggressive, and completely locked into the energy of the night.
Aaron Scott carried the front of the stage with a presence that felt aggressive without being forced. He had that raw vocalist energy that makes a set feel alive, constantly pushing the emotion of the performance outward. Whether he was leaning into the microphone, dropping low toward the front of the stage, or locking into the moment with the crowd, there was a real sense of conviction in the way he performed. His delivery gave the songs a physical weight, making the vocals feel like more than just sound coming through the PA. It felt like a confrontation, and in a live setting like this, that works.
Donald Eric Dando brought a different kind of force on guitar. His playing gave the set its bite, but visually he also gave the show a lot of motion and attitude. Hair flying, guitar raised, body locked into the riffs — those are the kinds of moments that make a live performance feel alive. There was nothing stiff or overly staged about it. He played with the kind of movement that fits a heavy club show, where the energy of the riff and the movement of the player become part of the same thing.
Mike Barrett held down the low end with the kind of presence that gives the heavier parts their weight. In a room like Club Dada, bass does not just sit in the background. It fills the space and pushes the songs forward, giving the guitars and vocals something solid to stand on. Dale Bennett’s drumming kept everything driving with the right amount of force, giving the set its backbone and keeping the band locked together through the heavier moments. Together, the rhythm section gave VIVID AND VULGAR that live punch that makes a small-room metal show feel bigger than the stage it is happening on.
What stood out most about this show was the honesty of it. VIVID AND VULGAR did not come across like a band trying to imitate something bigger. They came across like a DFW band doing what they do, leaning into the grit, the heaviness, and the raw stage energy that makes local shows worth showing up for. There is a different kind of connection when a band is playing close enough that you can see every expression and feel every shift in the room. That closeness gave the performance an edge that would have been lost in a larger, cleaner environment.
The lighting at Club Dada gave the night a gritty mix of reds, blues, purples, and harsh stage contrast, which fit the band perfectly. It added to the feel of the performance without taking away from the rawness of it. Aaron’s intensity up front and Donald’s movement on guitar gave the show a lot of life, while the full band pushed through with the kind of unpolished fire that makes live music feel dangerous in the best way.
By the end of the set, VIVID AND VULGAR had delivered the kind of performance that makes you want to keep paying attention to what is happening in the Dallas-Fort Worth music scene. It was heavy, raw, loud, and full of the kind of stage presence that makes a local show memorable. Club Dada was the right room for it, and VIVID AND VULGAR made the most of every bit of that stage.
VIVID AND VULGAR brought the DFW heaviness to Dallas, and this was one of those shows that reminded everyone in the room why live music still matters. It was not about perfection. It was about energy, attitude, and leaving something real on the stage.
For anyone who missed it, the full photo gallery captures the sweat, movement, and raw energy of the night. VIVID AND VULGAR brought the DFW heaviness to Dallas, and this was one of those shows that was just flat-out fun to shoot.
View the full photo gallery:
https://infraredmag.com/photo-gallery-vivid-and-vulgar-live-at-club-dada-in-dallas-tx-on-wednesday-may-6th-2026/
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