Dallas Crane

There is no better way to finish off a weekend of patriotic drinking than listening to Australia’s own brand of dirty hard rock.

Dallas Crane’s support, Airbourne and Perth’s own The Flairz, set the tone. The Flairz put on a solid performance and it should not take them long to have their age dissociated from their music if they continue this growth. However, their sound would generate more foot-stomping if it was teamed with a more selfish and prideful performance. A few tips could be taken from boganesque Airbourne.

In the current climate of exaggerated high-pitched emotions, size-to-small’s and compromise between music and noise, Airbourne revert to that which calls us all. Rock. You know you are about to hear something raw and energetic when a shirtless frontman and a crew clad in sneakers and tight black jeans is supported by no less than eight massive Marshall amps and two Explorers. Airbourne’s music screams pub-rock, cold beer, AC/DC (of the Bon era) and hard play. Joel O’Keeffee, the band’s frontman and amalgamation of Bon Scott and Angus Young (big call, I know), burnt every part of the small Mojo’s stage while duck-walking, spraying the crowd with beer, headbanging, death-glaring and rolling around on the floor; all before he made his way through the crowd to mount the bar for a solo. The Mojos’ crowd were more passive than the Amplifier audience (who inflicted some serious pain on last Thursday night’s air), but the boys played with as much energy, confidence and meaning. My only complaint is that their music has not evolved far from their influences. But, seriously, who cares when you rock this good?!

I was proud of Dallas Crane’s set. Having seen them a few times, the Mojos show was one of their better ones. DC is a guaranteed good time, but they seemed more comfortable this time, despite the smaller space and use of simple lighting. The lads did not abuse the tour; they changed their setlist and did not take the opportunity to bolster their new album to a packed venue. The set mainly concentrated on the last two albums and the singles of these generated the biggest reaction. DC’s albums themselves are well suited to live shows, but the boys extended their instrumentals and kicked in a few ‘High Voltage Rock n Roll’s to deliver that extra cherry. The crowd was responsive as Dave Larkin darted in and out of the mob for a quick riff or two. The traditional stage antics of DC seem to have dulled down for this tour (I remember Larkin pouring beer down my friend’s throat and letting the crowd have a go at the mic). This was likely because the stage did not allow much movement, so the Mojos’ energy would have been better used on a more apt stage.

Despite the top show, my main criticism of Dallas Crane’s performances remains; their support bands tend to overshadow their music. This is not because of DC’s talent, but the genre of their support. While Airbourne amped the crowd for the act that everybody came to see, Airbourne generated such a big response that they were on many lips at the end of the show.

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