Sour Girls and Factory Boys

It’s fair to say that Dallas Crane are one of the true kingpins of old-fashioned “cock rock” in this country. One reviewer recently commented that it’s a mystery as to how these guys have got such a great reputation for their cracker live shows, yet somehow this following hasn’t really translated into big record sales. Thinking about it some more, it occurred to me that maybe to the average punter, listening to them on the stereo at home just isn’t the same after you've seen them in the flesh. I’ve had that experience before – you go to a great show, buy the album and it just sounds diluted in comparison. Never mind that though, last night’s show at the Hi Fi Bar (rivalled only in terms of crappy ventilation by Festival Hall) was an absolute corker.

A scene that seems to be getting more and more familiar lately, is the Fan And Girlfriend. It’s the male who really likes the band and his lady friend that has come along under sufferage. These poor girls often spend the night nursing a drink, playing with their phone and are really easy to spot because of the sour look on their face. Maybe it’s not so much a sour look but a painful wince because their high heels are causing them so much pain??

The great thing about Dallas Crane is that you don’t have to know any of the songs let alone the words, to have an absolutely fantastic time. Their energy, not to mention the catchy tunes, are positively infectious. And as for the thumping drums, throbbing bass and nifty guitar work, along with Dave Larkin’s natural flamboyance and unlikely charm…even the biggest couch potato will find themselves tapping their feet and swaying their hips. The main set flew by, with offerings from the band’s current album ‘Factory Girls’, such as “Curiosity”, “Lovers And Sinners” and “Two Can Play At This Game”.

I’m no expert, but you could pick the older numbers by the enthusiastic reaction from the crowd, such as “Sit On My Knee” and “Ladybird” – the latter sticks in my memory because it was the opener of the show where I first saw them, some time last year. What I love about Dallas Crane's music is that there’s nothing particularly intellectual or poetic about it. The lyrics don’t exactly leave you scratching your head trying to decipher their true meaning. It’s just good, old school primal rock music.