The Datsuns @ San Fran, Wellington
The Datsuns park up at San Fran with their ugly warm leather
I fancy a gig from The Datsuns. This was my eighth, and by now I know what I'm getting: it says rock and roll on the tin, and they never disappoint. They were also back at San Fran, where I last caught them in 2014, and it suited them then too. Had they changed in the 12 years since I last saw them? No. And that's just the way I like it.
It was a sweaty late summer evening in Wellington, and the room was warm before anybody had plugged in.
Warm Leather
Warm Leather, a band from Auckland, as I found out later, opened the night. They were noise rock art punk, and competent from start to finish. The only thing I clearly remember is thinking "this isn't bad". No flickers of enthusiasm remain, so it can't have been great either. Fair enough, not every opener can be a revelation.
The Datsuns
Then The Datsuns screeched to a halt on the stage and the rock parked up for the duration.
Dolf belts out a good tune. The mix was good, the amps were loud, and there were guitar poses everywhere without it getting tacky. They duly delivered all the hits I'd hoped to hear. It's the same fast, filthy, no-frills racket that fit the Underworld in Camden so perfectly back in 2009, and seventeen years on it still sounds better loud.
Overall a proper rock and roll night out, and I went home with my ears ringing and a grin on my face.
Photos from the gig
