The Datsuns – at Café Du Nord – San Francisco, CA

So it has been awhile since I have made it to a show in San Francisco, but it has been even longer for a certain group that was originally known as Trinket. My last trip for a show in the Bay Area was about a year ago, but it has been over 3 years since they arrived stateside. In support of their “new” album Head Stunts, The Datsuns made a quick stop to the tiny bar/venue known as Café Du Nord. New to some, as the album was released in 2008 internationally but delayed until mid 2009 for the American release.

This was the first time I have had the pleasure of visiting Café Du Nord and the venue is a great one.

I arrived just before 10:30 and found there to be ample street parking within a block of the venue at the street meters on Market St. I think all the parking is street, as there was no valet (which is all there seems to be in Los Angeles) and there was no lot for the venue. I am so use to late start times that I was startled that there was just a couple people outside smoking cigs when I got to the entry of the show. I could hear music inside and ran down the stairs, leaving the Castro District behind me and entering the dim lit venue.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs I was faced with a bar on the right side, where people were drinking away and munching on food, and a merch tables to the left. I didn’t stop at either and continued into the next room to where the stage was. As soon as I entered the music stopped meaning I had missed both of the opening acts. As around a dozen people left the room I staked my claim right in front of the stage with a whopping two other people that either didn’t need a smoke or another drink.  It was almost 11pm and still only a handful of people had made their way to the stage. Sure, there were some at the bar, but I would have figured there would have been many more making their way in.

A side door opened and out popped the four Kiwi’s (That’s what you call a New Zealander) Dolf de Borst, Phil Buscke Somervell, Christian Livingstone and Ben Cole. They are often just referred to by their first name with the last name Datsun but just incase you wanted their real names to give you some indie street cred I have included them. As singer and bass player extraordinaire Dolf intro’d the band the handful of people became a few handfuls of people and the front of the stage began to get packed with fans. Pushing and shoving for a better spot ensued as he started to speak.

“We’re The Datsuns and we’re from New Zealand. We’re from the other side of the International Dateline so while its Monday here, it’s Friday there… And we want you to rock it like a Friday”. And with that the band broke into the track “Sittin Pretty” off their debut, self-titled, album.

The opening guitar riff from Christian’s guitar pumped out the amps, and the pounding build up from Ben’s drum kit filled the room and set the evening up for an impressive night of rock and roll. It was already hard to tell which was louder, the music or the fans cheering. Once the first solo hit a mini pit formed in the audience. While I feel too old to be in the pit, and I am 26, I would have easily been the youngest in the pit. There were plenty of  people that I spoke to that were easily in their mid to late 40s starting the bumping and circling.

These guys bring the rock and roll and don’t let it stop. And it’s not that poppy new brand of rock like JET, whom many people try to compare this band to. Each song is dirty, grimy and filled with shredding solos that are packed into 3-minute punches. It was hard not to start head banging to tracks like “MF from Hell” or even “Maximum Heartbreak”. And I am sure that head banging isn’t a very indie thing to do, but this band is sure as hell not indie.

Even though the tour is in support of their album that dropped in May state side, it wasn’t until towards the end of the set that we were treated to a chunk of songs from it. Even the newer songs like “Human Error” and “So Long” were tight and sounded like they had been playing it for years. The stage presence of the band also added to the show. From Dolf putting down the bass and getting the entire audience to clap along with the drums, to Christian going into the splits while sliding both hands on the guitar, you could not take your eyes off the stage for one minute.

Before ending the 19-song set with “Eye of the Needle” Dolf showed how Punk he was. While taking a swig of water and spitting it out, water fountain style, onto the drums. Ben just laughed as Christian and Phil cranked out the jam. By the time they walked off the stage it had already been over an hour and a half and I know my ears were ringing. They barely even had closed that side door before they were back on stage playing a two-song encore.

The Datsuns’ set hit the audience again and again like a Heavyweight fighter. Every song containing slick riffs and epic guitar solos to keep you throwing your fist in the air. There was never a break in the high-octane rock. Not even a ballad to give the concertgoers a break to grab a drink.

Sure some may say they are just a new generation of cock rock, but if you want to hear some true rock and roll in an environment where you cant just sit with your arms crossed, The Datsuns are a must see.

You can check out The Datsuns at: www.myspace.com/thedatsuns


 

Carl Pocket
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
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