DKT/MC5, Young Heart Attack,Giants of Science @ Coogee BayLive, 30/07/2004

Mon 2nd Aug, 2004 in Gig Reviews

When you rock up to a gig for a review and you’re on the door, all you really expect to get is a stamp to let you in the door so you can do your thing. Well, tonight the three most magical words were uttered as the girl at the door ticked me off: “Access All Areas”. With that my mate and I were handed funky, bright yellow stickers, and we were off.

There’s something about Selina’s, now known as Coogee Bay Live; you can feel the history as you walk around the place. There have been so many great bands play on that brick stage. In my minds eye, I could imagine some of Australia’s greatest rock bands playing there at the height of their careers; bands like The Saints, Radio Birdman, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and Hunters and Collectors. International greats like Nirvana have also graced the stage, and if I squint, after seeing the room I can just about imagine seeing Kurt up on stage just before the band really broke into the mainstream.

As we wandered up to that hallowed stage, Brisbane’s Giants of Science were about half way through their set. The Giants played a really great set. Their brand of straight up rock music started the night off well. An inspired choice of support acts, similar enough without being the same as either of the other bands on the bill.

Next up on stage were Young Heart Attack from Austin, Texas. My description of their sound at the time was a little bit AC/DC, a little bit Guns ‘n’ Roses, with a bit of Transvision Vamp thrown in for good measure. Checking out their website, the Acca Dacca reference has been made before by other reviewers and the band calls itself a blend of the B52’s and AC/DC. I love this whole hard rock revival scene that’s emerged because of bands like Young Heart Attack and The Darkness.

The most impressive thing about Young Heart Attack’s set was the performance of their guitarist Frenchie, who could play a mighty mean guitar solo. Young Heart Attack’s album is one I’ll be seeking out in the near future.

With the conclusion of Young Heart Attack’s set, the stage was set for the emergence of DKT/MC5, playing tonight with special guests Mark Arm, Evan Dando and Deniz Tek. The band emerged firstly as a three piece, with Wayne Kramer performing vocal duties on Ramblin’ Rose and doing a mighty fine job of it too. Michael Davis, MC5 bass player, took over vocal duties for I Can Only Give You Everything. Two tracks in the first of the two guest vocalists took the stage, Mark Arm, from the legendary grunge outfit Mudhoney. Arm really relished the opportunity to be onstage with the three original members of MC5 and really gave the night his all.

Evan Dando emerged on stage for Shakin’ Street where he worked on backing vocals for Arm. When comparing the performances of Arm and Dando, you really had to wonder why Dando was there. He sang on less than half a dozen songs, running side of stage after he’d finished each of his bits, whereas Arm was a constant throughout the night.

Tonight’s set was a complete contrast to that of last Friday in Melbourne, all of the band members appeared relaxed and of good humour. Kramer took every opportunity to remind punters that the evening’s show was being recorded and that it would be available for purchase at the end of the night. The show really took off five tracks out from end of the set, when the band played rousing rendition of Teenage Lust.

DKT/MC5 closed the night with Kick Out the Jams, which blew the lid off the place; a tribute to Ray Charles I Believe to My Soul; and finally closed their main set with a ten-minute cover of Sun Ra’s Starship. The encore was inevitable; the band came back out and played three more tracks, which included Evan Dando’s best work for the evening. The set closed, as it did in Melbourne with some good old audience participation.

It was then time to collect my recording of the evening’s proceedings and to have it autographed by the band members. Not surprisingly all of the band members, bar the seemingly arrogant tosser Dando, made themselves available for autographs. I was surprised as to humbleness of the band as a whole, and how keen they were to speak to their fans. Kramer was particularly chatty and Davis was quite taken with one of the younger female fans.

On our way out, one of my mates asked Mark Arm whether or not Mudhoney were still touring, and whether or not they’d be back in Australia in the near future. Arm said that the band were keen to come back to Australia, and mentioned how jealous they were of his opportunity to come back here on the MC5 tour. With a bit of luck we’ll see them back here sometime in the new year!