Dananananaykroyd – New Slang, Kingston 13/11/08

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Currently two thirds through an epic tour, Dananananaykroyd tore through Kingston’s weekly indie club night, New Slang. Not one half-drunk indie urchin was left untouched by the feelgood vibes in what was a truly explosive night of prime live music.

First up were Brontide, who my friend assures me sounded just like cult math behemoths Russian Circles. However, as I’ve never heard of that band (just thought it might be an easy comparison for those in the know), I was forced to make my own judgement. For starters, this band are tight. Where some techy bands fall a bit flat on their faces when it comes to the live performance, fretwork racing away from them as they try to keep in time with the military drumming, there was no such problems for Brontide. Nathan (bass) and Timothy (guitar) were on fire, creating intricate tapped melodies that shied away from cliche, before dropping into head-mashing breaks that could almost be described as beatdowns. William (drums) should also be commended for his ability to switch between Battles esque rabid beats and hardcore, fill heavy drops without fear of contrast. Brontide do a great job of marrying many different influences and presenting it in a package that is both pop and live performance friendly. Set highlight was the mid-point rendition of ‘Crunk Anansie’, a prime example of what makes Brontide a quality band. Strong contrasts, great musicianship, and above all instrumental songs that actually maintain interest rather than discourage.

Next on were Favours For Sailors, who whilst being polar opposites to the previous band, fitted in perfectly with the night in general. Songs that are simpler in structure and easier to dance to is the name of Favours For Sailors’ game, and it was a game in which they truly excelled. The oft-touted Pavement reference is very fitting, with shades of Modest Mouse and a slightly more British spin on Vampire Weekend becoming more apparent as the set progressed. But unlike Vampire Weekend, Favours For Sailors are altogether more likeable, and much less pretentious. Singer JRC was endearingly friendly and polite with a crowd of university students who were well on their way to inebriation, and the music didn’t fail to get people dancing around, spilling their cheap pints with vim and vigor. Even though Favours play the kind of music that most brits have had pumped through their ears for the past 20 years in one incarnation or another, they still manage to maintain their own sense of identity, with a sound that recalls the best of British rather than the worst of the NME cover stars of the last decade. Maybe a good indie revival is on the cards?

And then, Dananananaykroyd. Like their moniker, the band are initially a puzzling prospect, but once you ‘get’ it, you fully understand the potential of this Scottish 6 piece. A whirlwind of music from the start, dual vocalists Callum and John sawed holes into the audience’s heads and then poured in great ladles full of screams, barks and yelps, topped off with a healthy dose of getting in the crowd and loving life. Clearly experts at their roles, they had no problem in whipping the crowd up into a frenzy in an instant. Their quest was aided greatly by the polished and not-as-jerky-as-you’d-think guitar duo of David and Duncan, and the hammering rhythm section of Paul and Laura providing a strong musical bar for the two singers to swing, jump and flip off. The standard crowd/band invisible barrier was well and truly demolished, as not long into the set, Dananananaykroyd unleashed their now legendary ‘Wall Of Cuddles’ on an audience who had obviously spent the first 10 minutes in clamouring anticipation for this event. Callum and John were slightly surprised by the ferocity of the audience, but instead of alienating crowd members through criticism, chose instead to spin it into a positive message, calming down the more ‘hardcore’ people whilst bringing the shyer ones out of their shells. Songs like ‘Infinity Milk’ and ‘The Greater Than Symbol’ gave the audience plenty of clap-along chances, and even more chances to get up close and personal to the vocalists, who spent half the set jumping up and down with the masses like spotty teenage kids trying to check out top shelf magazines at a local convenience store (but not being quite tall enough).

Dananananaykroyd are riding a massive wave of hype and reverence right now, and with their performance at New Slang, it’s easy to see why. Walking a very thin line between mania and self destruction, this band have the technical knowledge and grace to keep this musical timebomb in check, whilst also having charisma and charm by the bucketload. By the end of the set, the audience was catching their collective breath, tired from the unusual level of energy that they’d just danced off in the last 45 minutes. The band were just as shattered, having visibly given their all to this rendition of 8 or so songs, but the amount of high fives, cheers and compliments directed towards Dananananaykroyd afterwards showed that they are much loved and well respected for bringing a party like no other.

And they’re doing this every night for a month?

Wow.