Review and photos by Craig Eriksson.
Tonight Dallas Crane launched their new single Trouble Knows My Name at The Corner Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne.
We arrived at the Corner Hotel just in time for The Ronson Hangup. They are a supergroup from Melbourne which formed around the partnership of Ashley Naylor (Even, Paul Kelly Band, The Church, Rockwiz) and Steve Pinkerton (The Anyones, Dallas Crane). I’ve seen them a few times now and totally dig their music which has a pop/psych/country rock vibe described as half-Beatles, half-Zeppelin. You have Pinkerton on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Naylor on lead guitar and backing vocals, Erica Menting (The Golden Rail) on backing vocals and acoustic guitar, Dave Mudie (Courtney Barnett) on drums and Luke Thomas (The Pictures) on bass. There’s so much to love about this band. A quality band and wonderful band to kick start the evening.
Melbourne band The Fauves are from the Mornington Peninsula and formed back in 1988. I’ve seen them numerous times over the past 30+ years and they still know how to put on a great show mixed with some friendly stage banter that had the crowd in stitches throughout their set. Their music is a blend of indie/psych rock and melodic pop-rock. We felt they took a few songs to warm up and get into the groove, but once they did they were top notch and kicked it into top gear with some infectious rhythms. They played a 12-song set which included 5 songs from Tropical Strength (2024) along with some of their well-known hits like MEDIUM PACER, WEAK CHIN, GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB, CELEBRATE THE FAILURE and NAIROBI NIGHTS.
Known for their passion for rock ‘n’ roll, Melbourne rockers Dallas Crane have been playing for almost 30 years. They formed back in 1996 and rehearsed material for their debut album ‘Lent’ in a Port Melbourne oil shed on the property of Dallas Crane Transport (hence where the band name was derived).
DC came out blazing, launching straight into THE SUNNYSIDE from Scoundrels (2015). They also performed SO IT GOES and GET OFF THE DOPE from the 2015 album. Lead singer Dave Larkin was looking very much the rocker wearing his distinctive newsboy cap, dark shades, skull & crossbone tee and a bandana around his neck. It was a welcoming return for Pete Satchell on lead guitar and backing vocals after returning from a short hiatus from the band. You could see the strong comradery between Larkin and Satchell throughout the set, thoroughly enjoying playing together again.
DC played a strong 2-hour, 19 songs set which included 4 wonderful covers and a good mix of songs from their past catalogue. Much to the delight of fans, they played 7 songs from their self-titled Dallas Crane (2006) album including WRONG PARTY, CAN’T WORK YOU OUT, IODINE, UNLUCKY STAR, LADYBIRD, LOVERS & SINNERS and DIRTY HEARTS in the encore. After watching Steve Pinkerton perform earlier with The Ronson Hangup as lead vocalist and guitarist, he is a brilliant drummer and backing vocalist too in Dallas Crane. Also wearing a newsboy cap, Chris Brodie on Bass guitar is one smooth, laid-back dude providing a steady, strong rhythm and groove to their sound working in beautifully with Pinkerton, Satchell and Larkin.
Larkin engaged with the crowd at every opportunity, revving up the crowd with their loud, heavy riffs, high-energy rock’n’roll, generating an electric vibe in the bandroom. Larkin is charismatic and a wonderful frontman that gives every show his heart and soul. You can see Larkin loves every minute of performing and the band play incredibly tight together. The crowd was a rowdy bunch and clearly in party-mode as we lead into a long weekend for the AFL Grand Final this coming Saturday at the MCG.
DC played SOLD ME and their hit song SIT ON MY KNEE from Twenty Four Seven (2005). Many would know Sit On My Knee when they re-recorded the song as a duet with Jimmy Barnes for Barnsey’s Double Happiness (2005) album. NO THROUGH ROAD was an oldie that Larkin said they hadn’t performed for a long time and fans soaked it up. DC are currently working on album number six and they unleashed two new releases from this upcoming album with SYCAMORE STREET (2024) and TROUBLE KNOWS MY NAME (2025). Both songs are crackin’ songs and I can’t wait to hear and get my hands on the new album when it lands.
Mixed perfectly into their set were a few covers that lifted the roof off the Corner Hotel with crowd sing-alongs. A cover of The Beatles OH DARLING showcased Larkin’s raspy vocals. Patti Smith’s BECAUSE THE NIGHT was an absolute banger! Thrown in for good measure was a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ROCK AND ROLL and in the encore they covered Faces (Rod Stewart) version of STAY WITH ME. This was one of my favourite songs of the evening and was a fitting way to end an incredible evening of great Melbourne Rock.
Dallas Crane band:
Dave Larkin – Lead Vocals / guitar
Steve Pinkerton – Drums / backing vocals
Chris Brodie – Bass
Pete Satchell – Guitar / backing vocals
SET LIST:
The Sunnyside
Wrong Party
Can’t Work You Out
Iodine
Oh Darling (The Beatles cover)
So It Goes
No Through Road
Unlucky Star
Get Off The Dope
Because The Night (Patti Smith cover)
Trouble Knows My Name
Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin cover)
Ladybird
Sold Me
Lovers & Sinners
Sycamore Street
Sit On My Knee
Encore:
Stay With Me (Faces/Rod Stewart cover)
Dirty Hearts