Wednesday July 24, 2002

LIVE: Danko Jones
By: ChartAttack.com Staff
Hard Rock Café
Toronto, Ontario
July 23, 2002
by Aaron Brophy

Danko Jones has returned home. And it seems like his time hanging with vikings and assorted Euro trash rockers has propelled the Caramel Kid to dangerous new heights.
This night's show was a radio-promo, contest winners only gig held to celebrate the release of the new record, Born A Lion. As such, the set was both heavy on the new material and encore-less, a sort of brilliant means of creating a Pavlovian effect on the assembled concert-goers. This night there'd be no "Womanbound," "Sugar Chocolate" or "Mango Kid." Nor would there be the finally recorded staple "Love Is Unkind" or the brilliant "Word Is Bond."
Danko's first song attack, "The Rules," was both lurid and menacing. It was a cocky, brash, girlfriend-stealing piece of bravado designed to hook you in and it worked perfectly. Danko-the-band have clearly benefited from their time in the Old World. Danko himself was a sweating, tongue-wagging fireball who would slip into literal fits of manic headbanging. Bassist JC was right there as well, swaying and banging in violent syncronicity with Danko. While this chaos all unfolded up front, drummer Damon Richardson beat the skins with reckless abandon. Danko have had a long, checkered history with drummers, but in Richardson's wild-eyed pounding they may have found their soul mate.
Early on, the surprisingly Danko-knowledgeable crowd were treated to old-time feel-up classics like "Sex Change Shake." After a little reminiscing it was straight into new album territory with "Play The Blues." With one of the most uncomfortable shout-outs imaginable - "if you want to know how to play the blues, get yourself a woman" - the darker edge which courses through Born A Lion was established. "Get Outta Town," "Papa," "Way To My Heart," all were played with slashing power.
Oddly, with such a knowledgeable crowd in attendance, there was noticeable (and gratifying) trainspotter support. While new single "Sound Of Love" was received with the same polite tolerance that past radio rock staple "Bounce" would have, it was the long-time classic "Cadillac" which electrified the cult of Danko. Throughout the adulterous ode, Danko carefully stretched the pauses after lines about keeping your boyfriend locked in the trunk and the drama worked. Waves of supportive, girlish shrieks filled those precious seconds of onstage silence, no doubt creating fodder for post-show arguments between couples.
The set closed with the positive affirmation chant known as "Top Of The Mountain." With that, Danko completed the emotional rollercoaster ride of a set. Equal parts crass bravado, hurtful spite, pained revelation and ultimately, heart-strengthening resolve, Danko provided the audience with a complete emotional journey, all wrapped up in a wild rock 'n' roll package and well-ironed dress shirts.

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