Danko Jones - North Star Bar Philadelphia PA USA 28th July 2005
Setlist: Rules / My Time Is Now / Samuel Sin / Play The Blues / Heart Break / Living In The City / Mango Kid / Sound Of Love / Wait A Minute / Forget My Name / Hot Damn Woman / Lovercall / Cadillac / Mountain
This is actually my third time seeing Danko Jones live, but only one of those has been in my home country, the UK, at Donington in 2004.
Last time I saw them was in Cambridge MA, in April this year; I just happened to be working in Boston for a month and they just happened to be playing across the Charles River whilst I was there. Just as fortuitously, I happened to be working in Philadelphia when their touring schedule brought them to the North Star Bar. Well, if a band like DJ is in town, you just gotta go along, don’t you?
This is actually my third time seeing Danko Jones live, but only one of those has been in my home country, the UK, at Donington in 2004.
Last time I saw them was in Cambridge MA, in April this year; I just happened to be working in Boston for a month and they just happened to be playing across the Charles River whilst I was there. Just as fortuitously, I happened to be working in Philadelphia when their touring schedule brought them to the North Star Bar. Well, if a band like DJ is in town, you just gotta go along, don’t you?
I arrived at the venue quite early, as I had no idea where the hell it was. It isn’t the easiest of places to find either. Located on the corner of 27 th and Poplar, unless you know the numbers and trees well, it is quite well hidden. Nevertheless, I persevered and parked my rental car in the parking lot behind the building. As I sought out the entrance, I bumped into Danko and JC outside. They did a double-take, hardly expecting me to turn up there. “Shouldn’t you be in Massachusetts?” asked Danko. “Not this month,” I replied. “This month, I am in Philly!”
Both welcomed me warmly and I was reminded of what really nice guys they are. We chatted for a while and I discovered that they weren’t going on stage until about 11-11:30. So, as they went back to their hotel to get their stuff together, I took my Dodge Neon down to South Philly in the hope that someone would steal it and I could get something with a little more muscle to replace it.
Both welcomed me warmly and I was reminded of what really nice guys they are. We chatted for a while and I discovered that they weren’t going on stage until about 11-11:30. So, as they went back to their hotel to get their stuff together, I took my Dodge Neon down to South Philly in the hope that someone would steal it and I could get something with a little more muscle to replace it.
I parked up on 9 th and wandered over to Geno’s and ordered a ‘Provolone with’. Receiving my Cheese Steak at the same time as my change (this is what I call fast food!) I sat down at the one of the tables and ate my heavenly comestibles. Geno’s is certainly amongst the best when it comes to Cheese Steaks and, believe me, since I’ve been coming to Philadelphia, I have made a study of this.
I wandered back past my car. Unfortunately, it was still there. A softball game was in progress between a firehouse and a restaurant. I didn’t really have much idea of what was going on, but I was intrigued by the camaraderie and good-natured sportsmanship on display. I stayed and watched the, surprisingly, thrilling climax to the game. I enjoyed myself, it has to be said; an Englishman abroad does find a great deal of interest in the quaint colonial pastimes!
As the locals filed out, I once again returned to where I had abandoned the sewing machine that I had picked up at Newark airport. Jesus! It was still there! What do you have to do to get your car nicked in South Philly? Come on, is the Dodge Neon so bad that it is un-nickable? Probably. It’s not a good car. And, considering that this is the same company that shoehorns the awesome HEMI engine into the Chrysler 300, the new Dodge Charger, and a shit-load of pickup trucks, it is a travesty to have the same badge on the thing. It should display a Singer badge. Or, better still, a Ronco badge!! Yeah, the Ronco Neon: it gets you slowly from A-to-B and will also hem your pants as you drive. Now, that is a USP!
But, that is some major digression you’ve just waded through and you’re wondering when am I going to get around to the Danko bit of this review, aren’t you? In next to no time. Fairly soon. Well, in a while, anyway.
I wandered back past my car. Unfortunately, it was still there. A softball game was in progress between a firehouse and a restaurant. I didn’t really have much idea of what was going on, but I was intrigued by the camaraderie and good-natured sportsmanship on display. I stayed and watched the, surprisingly, thrilling climax to the game. I enjoyed myself, it has to be said; an Englishman abroad does find a great deal of interest in the quaint colonial pastimes!
As the locals filed out, I once again returned to where I had abandoned the sewing machine that I had picked up at Newark airport. Jesus! It was still there! What do you have to do to get your car nicked in South Philly? Come on, is the Dodge Neon so bad that it is un-nickable? Probably. It’s not a good car. And, considering that this is the same company that shoehorns the awesome HEMI engine into the Chrysler 300, the new Dodge Charger, and a shit-load of pickup trucks, it is a travesty to have the same badge on the thing. It should display a Singer badge. Or, better still, a Ronco badge!! Yeah, the Ronco Neon: it gets you slowly from A-to-B and will also hem your pants as you drive. Now, that is a USP!
But, that is some major digression you’ve just waded through and you’re wondering when am I going to get around to the Danko bit of this review, aren’t you? In next to no time. Fairly soon. Well, in a while, anyway.
Back at the North Star Bar, I availed myself of a refreshing pint of Guinness and sat down, waiting for the first support band to end their set. Not bad, and the girl guitarist was quite cute. Then the second support band came on and began to set up their kit. I looked on, amazed at how much gear they had. For a small band, that no-one has ever heard of they had some stuff. Pity that the guitar player blew up his stack though. They finally played a shortened set as a four-piece. Now, I had sat there, thinking what a strange name they had: ‘Teds’. I wondered what it could mean. They didn’t dress like Teddy boys, Teddy bears, or even Teddy Roosevelt. I made a mental note to check out their website, www.tedsband.com, which was emblazoned on the banner across the front of the stage. I figured that, probably, one of them was called ‘Ted’.
So, as you can imagine, it came as quite a surprise to me that, as they ended their shortened set, the singer bellowed “We areTeos! Good night!”
Ohhhhhh...
So, as you can imagine, it came as quite a surprise to me that, as they ended their shortened set, the singer bellowed “We areTeos! Good night!”
Ohhhhhh...
And so, Danko hit the stage. Power trio: Danko, JC and Damon. Minimal gear: a drum kit; a guitar; a bass. Necessary ampage only. Set up time is not even long enough to go and get another drink from the bar (Thanks for the beer JC!)
For the next hour and some, the North Star Bar rocked like a bastard. I don’t think this band knows how to play any other way than full-throttle, heads down, no nonsense, full-tilt, balls-to-the-wall boogie. They are just awesome. Songs flow quickly from one to another, with little time for inter-song banter, which when it does come, is amusing, engaging and enjoyable. Every aspect of the performance is spot on. The songs are punchy and raunchy; the playing loud and as sharp as a T-1000’s pointy thing. If you can go to a Danko Jones show and stand still, it’s official: You’re dead! You just can’t stop yourself from shaking your groove thang; this is precisely why middle America got so upset with people like Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, back in the fifties. Danko Jones music makes you all hot and bothered, and gets the blood flowing.
For the next hour and some, the North Star Bar rocked like a bastard. I don’t think this band knows how to play any other way than full-throttle, heads down, no nonsense, full-tilt, balls-to-the-wall boogie. They are just awesome. Songs flow quickly from one to another, with little time for inter-song banter, which when it does come, is amusing, engaging and enjoyable. Every aspect of the performance is spot on. The songs are punchy and raunchy; the playing loud and as sharp as a T-1000’s pointy thing. If you can go to a Danko Jones show and stand still, it’s official: You’re dead! You just can’t stop yourself from shaking your groove thang; this is precisely why middle America got so upset with people like Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, back in the fifties. Danko Jones music makes you all hot and bothered, and gets the blood flowing.
DJ may not be the biggest band around - although if heart and soul was the measuring stick for success, these guys would be mega – but there is one thing I see every time I’ve seen this band live: after the show, just looking around, you can tell the difference between the fans. There are the ones who already knew the secret; and then there are the ones who have just seen the light. The ones who went to the show already knowing the music and the band, walk around all hot and sweaty, horny, alive and pumped; the others who have just seen something they never expected, are also hot, sweaty and turned on, but they have a look on their faces that distinguishes them from everyone else. They can’t believe that they have seen such a performance from a band they’d never heard of before. Within the space of an hour, they have gone from not knowing, to being converted to the gospel according to Danko Jones. And you know they will spread the word. All that is needed is for people to hear and see this band and the rest should be a mere formality.
A new CD is due in the early part of 2006 and, hopefully, that will break Danko Jones to a wider audience. Any band that works and plays this hard deserves success and recognition. And I shall be there to see them. I don’t know where, and I don’t know when, but I shall be there.
Keep it Hard and Make it Rock!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st August 2005
A new CD is due in the early part of 2006 and, hopefully, that will break Danko Jones to a wider audience. Any band that works and plays this hard deserves success and recognition. And I shall be there to see them. I don’t know where, and I don’t know when, but I shall be there.
Keep it Hard and Make it Rock!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st August 2005
About the photos...
The main problem involved in taking any pictures at a Danko Jones gig is that no-one stands still long enough for you to a focus the camera, or snap the shutter. Now, as I try to avoid using the flash, this is a bit of a headache. And, not surprisingly, the majority of pics come out blurred.
However, being a persistent type, I don't let that impede my progress for too long!
However, being a persistent type, I don't let that impede my progress for too long!