The Datsuns
The Annandale, Sydney

Yes, The Datsuns are ‘back’, and yes, they still rock. The silence since 2006’s unjustly dismissed Smoke And Mirrors may have suggested a band at its demise - as was proven by the surprised faces and raised eyebrows by many upon the advertisement of this gig in the Sydney streetpress – but they definitely still rock. And what’s more, unlike so many others, they roll as well.

The hot, sweaty, sold-out Annandale housed a Datsuns quite different to my last experience of them (Big Day Out 2004, promoting their self-titled debut, having opened for Metallica two days previously) – hair messier, eyes crazier, less stadium and considerably, well, better. Dolf still has one of the most impressive screams in antipodean rock and roll, capable of jumping from a lower register to a high-pitched scream with little effort, and it seems much of the audience believed they were still opening for Metallica – I didn’t know flannelette circle pits still existed.

The setlist saw an almost even mix of the first, rock album; the third, bluesy rock album and more than a smattering of promising and very exciting new songs, whilst the second, somewhere-in-between album was sadly overlooked, with the exception of menage a trois ode ‘Girl’s Best Friend’ and then ‘Hong Kong Fury’ as an encore. Highlights included the brilliant first album singles ‘Harmonic Generator’ and ‘MF From Hell’ (that’s ‘motherfucker’, for any children reading), the dirty blues slide of ‘All Aboard’ and the veritable hip-shaker (though aren’t they all?) ‘Who Are You Stamping Your Foot For?’

They played, we danced; annoying audience members were told off and at one point thrown from the stage; faulty mics at one point added machinegun sound effects. The Ramones’ ‘The KKK Took My Baby Away’ as an encore was fun, but seemed a bit unnecessary, particular given both the cries for some more songs from Outta Sight/Outta Mind, and that the previous song ‘Sittin’ Pretty’ felt like the obvious climax of the performance. That said, The Datsuns proved again how much we need them in the modern rock and roll climate, being, as one friend and respected critic commented, ‘everything Jet should have been’ (but wasn’t) and more.

In all honesty, I don’t know that they ever really went away, but if this gig is to make any comment, it’s that yes, The Datsuns are most definitely back. We're fucken lucky to have them, too.

by A.H. Cayley