Dan Sartain - London 100 Club - 7/2/07
4/5
By: Keri Kennedy
The 100 Club, home of possibly the greatest number of 'I was there' gigs, has just played host to what should have been another one of those said shows. And yet Dan Sartain, the usually one-man new-wave rockabilly king, isn't on top form. And although his tip-top condition is so amazing, this, the last of a week's worth of shows, still doesn't disappoint.
With bass and drums from two members of his support band and fellow Birmingham, Alabama scenesters The Plate Six, Dan's sound is swamped. It just doesn't match the raw one-man show or the stripped down guitar and drums we've witnessed in the past. As such, it takes a while for a weary Dan to get into it, keeping his eyes closed throughout much of 'Tryin' To Say', 'Drama Queens' and 'Flight Of The Finch', but really thrashing his way into 'PCB '98' and treating us with all three instalments of the 'Cobras' trilogy. On these tracks, it's good to have the old Dan back, and he seems to have the most adoring crowd of him yet seen in front of him.
He shuffles along the stage for 'Hangers On', wails to his vocal limit during the swinging 'Shenanigans' and turns on the true Marty McFly style for new track 'Rock Around The Clock'. We could almost be in the Back To The Future scene where McFly shocks the prom dancers with his twiddling rock'n'roll guitar for a minute there. 'I Saw The Light pt. 2' is like a renewed Drama Queens, while his "Richie Sambora guitar solo" guides through the instrumental 'Love Is Crimson' majestically.
Upcoming single 'Thought It Over' ends the first part of the set, though he's soon back on for a solo version of the sweet 'Autopilot'. A true highlight of tonight's performance it is, a reminder of what Dan does best and a well timed hint that he can captivate an audience just as well on his own as with a full band. Contrarily this leads to a full on Alice Cooper rock-out and the return of David and Brad from Plate Six for the Cooper cover, 'Second Coming'. Ending with another new song, 'I Wanted It So', fellow support act Two Tears joins the stage for an end of tour collaboration - an Alabaman supergroup, almost.
Dan has proved in the past he's a true gem, that he's no crowd follower - and there's no need for him to be. He outshines all others on stage. He's been playing the same songs for some time now, though with a taster of the new material something tells me Dan's going to be back soon, hopefully, and predictably whipping up a storm.
Artists in this article: Dan Sartain
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