The Deans were coming off the back of a Tour that had taken in vast tracts of  mainland Europe that they covered in a beaten up Transit. Quite frankly by the time they arrived at the club on Friday for their penultimate gig of the tour they looked knackered. Maybe the travelling had taken it out of them and as a result they were a bit tetchy and seemed as though they’d have rather have been anywhere else except a small club in Wales. Maybe that’s their modus operandi , but we exchanged no more than a handful of words all night ( and those we did were to deal with their dissatisfaction with one thing or another). Nevertheless, as showtime approached the club filled up nicely and there was a definite air of anticipation in the audience.

 

Here’s a few observations on the band’s performance.

 

1. The band wear their Rory Gallagher influences firmly on their sleeves.
2. Gavin the guitarist is an exceptionally talented young musician who will doubtless earn a good living out of playing his instrument.
3. Their songwriting is not quite yet the finished article. Most of their material on first listening was pretty forgettable if I’m perfectly honest and only really took off during the guitar breaks.
4. The band were incredibly tight and well rehearsed especially given their refusal to use the on-stage monitors that were offered to them.
5. They should try to look as if they are enjoying their performance and communicate with the audience.
6.  Both bass player and drummer need space in the set to showcase their own   talents.

 

The Deans are walking a tightrope at the moment and really need to distance themselves from the Gallagher comparisons that threaten to drag them into “tribute band” territory.

 

Nevertheless the District audience gave the band a tremendous reception that hopefully send them on their way in a better mood than when the arrived.

 

 

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR REGULAR READERS:

 

In future you’ll be able to find all my blogs on the District Myspace site.(www.myspace.com/districtclub) .

 

It’s a real effort keeping one site up to date, let alone two, so in future your first port of call for all things District Club related should be the Myspace site.

The appearance of THE DEANS certainly threw up some variable opinions from those that i spoke to during the interval - ranging from outright disappointment to sheer ecstacy. Some seemed to be expecting something along the lines of a RORY GALLAGHER clone and although his shadow loomed (and his inspiration was evident) it was not so much in the overall band sound, but the emotional delivery that recalled the Irish axe legend. If anything the bands performance brought to mind the more eclectic, early days of THIN LIZZY when Eric Bell was injecting their Hard Rock sound with country & folk influences (circa 'Shades Of A Blue Orphanage')... Along with the progressive (in the true sense of the word) nature of their Bluesy Hard Rock the magnificent vocal harmonies between brothers Gavin (guitars) & Gary (bass) highlighted that the band has their own identity and covers from the likes of HOWLIN' WOLF and BOB DYLAN were certainly not obvious choices for a band so young. Also, it was refreshing to see a group that didn't resort to the cliches associated with Blues inspired Hard Rock that even masters like GARY MOORE and CLAPTON succumb to in following the obvious template of song-writing associated with the genre... Like all truly great music, the band was never going to float everyone's boat. Along with the likes of THE BREW here's a band that demonstrates 'Classic' Rock can be forged into something individual and exciting... One of the gigs of the year, but I'm sure the best is yet to come...

Well after they played ‘Dragging your feet’ I wish I had dragged myself out of the club, all their songs were tuneless, couldn’t understand a word what he was singing and their interaction with the audience was non existent!

Why didn’t they use the monitors, maybe they knew they were going play a piss poor set and didn’t want to hear it themselves!

Worst gig this year so far!!!!!!!

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