10.23.08

It’s not for the cock, it’s for being Totally Bone.

Posted in Gigs, Lauren at 9:32 am by Lauren

Dananananaykroyd, Johnny Foreigner/ Madame JoJo’s/ 30.09.08

It’s not often one sees a line up so simply perfect as tonight’s. A band whose recent debut can be expected to flutter around top twenty lists across the internet come this December and another who are going to find it difficult not to take over the world in the next two years if certain sources are to be believed. 

Half of Dananananaykroyd start their set in the crowd to test how deep their microphones will let them venture before everything gets into full swing. They begin with their most recent release Pink Sabbath and with such a stand out track the band are certainly setting the bar high. Once it’s there, however, they do everything in their power to leap frog over it, limbo under it and pretty much destroy it with sound and silliness. They are essentially an intense yet light hearted band. They orchestrate a ‘wall of pain’ but instead use hugs and as the stupidly grinning audience sweatily embrace one another to the sounds of ‘Some Dresses’ you can pretty much see the ever disappearing line between twee and more hardcore sounds being further smudged. On record this concept may not be as obvious but watching the six boys and girl furiously attack their instruments to create something in the realms of catchy, fast paced pop while various members add singing, shouting and screaming so naturally over the top something new and exciting begins to click.  The group also show alliances to other bands pursuing this unexpected yet ever growing sound by dedicating songs to members of the audience sporting Los Campesinos! and Johnny Foreigner merch.

Tonight Dana… confirm their ever growing whispers of them being the most exciting, energetic and enthusiastic live band in the country. It’s only when packing up their equipment when the audience actually sees all six of them actually on the stage at one time as relentless guitar solos and awesomely emtoive vocals are all delivered in the thick of the heaving crowd. Vocalists Callum Gunn and John Baillie Junior are often seen gripping each other euphorically in the crowd whilst belting out perfectly timed bursts of song, one thing that is truly remarkable about this band is that while their shows appear the be complete chaos on the surface their performance is impressively tight. So yes, the rumours are true, Dananananaykroyd are about to change your life. 

Like a delicious desert following an epic meal, Johnny Foreigner’s set perfectly complements that of Dana. They are far more the ‘cool down’ act than the former are the ‘warm up’. This isn’t to insult their performance, which many would struggle to come close to, it’s just that the quick fire chaos of Dana would struggle not to be the main event in whichever line-up they found themselves in. The Birmingham based trio still, however, manage to deliver an hugely charming set discussing which song to play in between each song as the idea of set lists are too boring. That does mean that some album classics are missed out but it also means that every song they choose to play is performed with enthusiasm and an air of spontaneity which is far more refreshing than watching a band tread down an already well beaten path.The audience react to each song’s opening chords with frenzied cheers and this only spurs on the three skinny bodies on stage. The chemistry between the band is excellent tonight and their sweat dripping faces spend the show either screaming at each other or straight into the worshipping mass before them. 

In short, tonight is one of those nights that not only reminds you why you spend all your time and money on music but also makes you thankful because if you hadn’t of given so much you could have lived life oblivious to sheer fucking brilliance of bands such as these.

Dananananaykroyd Myspace

Dananananaykroyd-Pink Sabbath

Johnny Foreigner Myspace

Johnny Foreigner-Hennings Favourite

Johnny Foreigner-Sofacore

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