It has been eight and a half years since Danko Jones last played Australia and the Espy was filled to the brim with those who had not forgotten the king of cool and his fellow henchmen of rock n roll. And let’s face it, Danko Jones looks good and the ladies love him.
The guy is suave, keeps his cool, and has a tongue that puts Gene Simmons to shame. It wouldn’t matter if he was playing to 20 or 20,000, the energy levels are the same. He came on stage to a huge applause and without wasting any time he got down to business.
Right from the get go, the band was firing on all cylinders. The sound was perfect, the rhythm section was tight and Jones’ playing was full of gusto and plenty of riffs.
For a three piece band, Danko Jones sound powerful and aggressive as they belt out their songs of love, perversions, heartbreak and sex, and the crowd lapped it up and cheered with appreciation.
Finishing their set with the epic ‘Mountain’, the only song that Danko Jones have played live continuously yet have never recorded for any of their studio albums.
This is his war cry and testament to his achievements, his statement on his place in rock n roll. While he may not be a household name to us here in Australia, his accomplishments across the globe over the years are something to be commended and ‘Mountain’ is his way of saying ‘fuck you’ to all those that said he would never amount to anything. Who’s laughing now?
It’s a definite highlight of the set that pays respect to rock n roll’s fallen heroes like Ronnie James Dio, Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone, and our very own Bon Scott, just to name a few.
Danko Jones finished with the crowd screaming for more and it was obvious they came to win back their fans who may have forgotten and win over those who have never known. With any luck, it won’t be another eight and a half years before they return. Fingers crossed.
It would be fair to say that the main reason people came to see Loaded is because of its connections to Guns N Roses. It’s a fair call but it has to be said that while the rock fans are crying out for a reunion by the original GNR line-up, former bassist Duff McKagan looks quite happy and comfortable playing a show of this size, in a venue like this, fronting his own band.
McKagan’s Loaded sound fantastic and as they powered through a set consisting of originals, some punk rock covers, and a few classics from his GNR days, the overly excited punters became more and more rowdy, screaming for the attention of their 80s hero.
The first half of Loaded’s set was focused on songs from their three albums, but also included versions of the Misfits’ ‘Attitude’, Johnny Thunders’ ‘You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory’, The Damned’s New Rose, and an impromptu crowd sing-a-long of the GNR smash hit, ‘Patience’.
The crowd was hot and eager for more, so seizing this opportunity, McKagan and bassist Jeff Rouse swapped instruments and the Gershwin Room erupted into chaos as they tore through GNR classics ‘You’re Crazy’ – with Danko Jones on vocals – ‘Dust N Bones’ and finishing with ‘It’s So Easy’.
Both Jones and Loaded delivered a show worthy of respect and both the vibe and energy of the room had to be felt and experienced to really understand just how lucky those in attendance were to have bands of this calibre playing such an intimate venue for their fans.
Here’s hoping they don’t stay away too long and head back sooner rather than later.
