Nihilista Magazine - Offend To Defend Music and Arts News and Reviews
Danko Jones Live @ Camden Underworld
Rolled up to the Camden Underworld expecting to coast through the first two bands then loose myself totally for Danko… as it is no secret I am a bit of a fan. Get in, drop coat, hit bar, vodka, merch stand, WINNEBAGO DEAL! This first band caught my ear like a fish hook, I had to go and see what the noise was all about. I was surprised to see only 2 guys on stage, drummer and guitar/vocalist shredding out some totally bare knuckle rock. I imagine Winnebago deal is what would happen if The White Stripes I had their head blown off by enraged metalers and their instruments and remains where reanimated by the forces featured in the Evil Dead movies…. Maybe I say this as, since the gig, I have watches their video ‘ManHunt’.
The Black Spiders came next. Bass thudding like Black Sabbath with some serious sleazy guitaring, I knew they were good when my friend turned to me and said ‘there is not one of them I wouldn’t do’ the sign or rock gods in the making. Bearded, long haired, sweaty and damn can they rock. I took a glance around the room, and from what I could see, most people were pulling their ‘rock face’ you know the one where you frown a bit, bite your bottom lip and nod your head and a controlled but passionate fashion… I usually figure this to mean they are too sober to dance, but still showing appreciation for the music.
Now for DANKO JONES our headliners; Like I said, I’m a fan, I expected some good hard rocking out, but what did surprise me (being the first time I’ve actually seen Danko) was the magnetic stage presence of the guy. Its rare for bands to get good audience interaction, they often talk too much, too little, a load of shite, but Danko really got the crowd on side – a well perfected routine I would have thought though some how underneath the witty crowd banter seemed a really manic energy, an energy that you can definitely hear in the music, 11 releases deep. They ripped through a whole bunch of tracks, the crowd jumped, bumped and sweated all over each other till “thanks you and good night”, though never ones to disappoint the band returned for a 3 song encore. “I live by the code of the road na na na na city by city night by night na na na na” Awesome. Yeah!
Review by Kelly Sabrina
