The D4 / The Datsuns - London Highbury Upstairs @ Garage - 10/4/02
4/5
By: Toby L
'We've come all the way - travelling 29 hours to be with you here tonight!' - The D4 onstage.
New Zealand, then: home of rock. What - you don't think so? Evidently, you weren't present at Upstairs At The Garage this evening...
Yes, yes, I know - the only other major musician of international-perspective from this part of the world is one Neil Finn, ex of Crowded House; and, whilst his talent has allowed him to live through a long and fruitful career, he's hardly a punk-God, this is true. But, such is New Zealand's present lack of profile and notoriety within the rock-world for producing any artists that will eventually fly out and grace overseas shores that maybe now really is the time for some stars to be spawned from NZ. If this is to be the case in 2002, then the country's best shots will be through recent Infectious signings, The D4, and their support-act for the night, The Datsuns.
... Except the latter really don't pose the typical characteristics of a mere 'support-act', clearly as strong as what follows. The Datsuns don't waste time, leaping on to the minute platform that is the room's stage, pulling big-poses, rock hand-signals, proceeding to knock out heavy-metal anthems-in-waiting, such as the glorious 'Harmonic Generator', whose title best describes the musical-content therein. 'We've got some 45s for sale,' mouths a keen and chipper frontman, Dolf, continuing, 'Go and ask for the 'Mother-F**ker From Hell',' at which point they rocket effortlessly tightly and rather crazily into said track, prompting a mini-sea of pogoing bodies near the venue's front. Wow; and all from huge riffs, long hair and cracking guitar-solos; this band could be huge.
Well, although the former seemed, admittedly, occasionally 70's in presentation, it can't be that decade that we're witnessing as soon as headliners The D4 walk up on in front, prompting a scintillating cheer from the sold-out crowd. Instead, however, what comes next is the epitome of 50's rock 'n' roll, yet combined with the restrained vocal assault of Ash's Tim Wheeler as well as sheer balls of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - even bearing the punked-up vibe of the early-Beastie Boys' full band-efforts. Indeed, relevantly for the last comparison, they contain their own 'Fight For Your Right' - in the form of a track which also bawls the lyric 'PAR-TAY' rather repetitively. Still, most of the crowd are indeed here because of their current and debut single - 'Rock 'N' Roll Motherf**ker', granted an early hearing, and one of the set's most uncompromising and raucous highlights. None of it's madly new, but it is full of enough bite to chomp the Eiffel Tower in half.
So, what with acts such as Australia's The Vines poised for special things in 2002, maybe these two upstarts should join the ranking as the Southern Hemisphere's contenders for world-domination in the next twelve months.
New Zealand: home of rock. Hmm, well, maybe it is true after all.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment