Danko Jones - Showed Graspop how to 'Play the Blues'!!!

***3/4

Is Graspop ready for something different?

Graspop Festival

Danko Jones ***3/4 (Main Stage 2) You hear the distinctive sound of Danko's guitar and then his voice comes in and you know that it is time to get it on. He steadily introduces to his rules in a song that is simple entitled 'The Rules', before he launches at you with his brand of Blues / Rock for his big hit 'Play the Blues'. It's nice to have some Blues / Rock 'n' Roll at Graspop and the fact that Danko offers something different to the festival is a really good thing. Even though his music is far more suited for a sleazy club, where you can get down and sweaty to his music.

He gives you a nice contrast to his other material with the track 'Twisting the Knife', this song has elements of Classic Rock that even traditional Heavy Metal bands would be happy to call their own. While the track goes on you hear that bassist John 'JC' Calabrese really does have some skills, really standing out on this track. This is Danko Jones' first time at Graspop and they are really out to impress, and he asks "Graspop would you let a Rock 'n' Roll band into your heart today!" and looking at their big que after at the signing tent... they really have. 

'Forget my Name' sounds really big and the flow is great like 'Do you wanna Rock', which is a perfect song for these surroundings. 'Had Enough' falls short a little and possibly was not the right choice of songs for todays set. But Danko always knows how to save things and he does that with his brilliant single 'First Date', which everyone in the audience seems to know every word to. It's also a great song to dance around to in the sun, so this is the best moment for me in his set today.

He goes a little more hard hitting at you with the brilliant 'Full of Regret' and the brilliant new song 'Watch you Slide', which get's a massive round of applause. This leads to chanting from the crowd for his classic number 'Cadiliac' which he plays with determination, like it was the last time he would ever play it. Also he puts a great deal of anger into this song, which really works well for him. I love it when Danko is angry because it makes the songs so much better. Also drummer number seven Rich Knox shows that he is a vital member of the band, during this song... keeping the time so well.

Danko announces that the last song his guitar was totally out of tune, while JC lays down one of the best bass lines anyone could ever play. "We are a real Rock 'n' Roll band playing real Rock 'n' Roll on the spot!", he also goes on to say that he doesn't care if his guitar goes out of tune because Rock bands only every get six out of ten... so he is going for six and a half out of ten. If you look at the top of the page I think we gave him slightly over what he wanted, and I think he did break the score with this great track and closing number 'Gonna be a fight Tonight'. 

I found out about Danko Jones from a friend called Scott Morse who was really into and used to drive me around to all the shows, and over the time we went to see him all the time. I fell in love with his music and they remind me of so many good times, and I think I will add his Graspop performance to these memories. It was good fun and that is what Danko Jones is all about.