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Tour Dates
03/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Ballroom
03/20 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 03/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Public Works 03/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre Read More Do you remember listening to Brody talk about SXSW 2012? Django Django was his number one band as far as "Best Performances" goes.
The London-based quartet is in the middle of their world tour in support of their debut 2012 album… .…
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While their name has nothing to do with the recent Tarantino movie (nor musician Django Reinhardt), UK beat band Django Django played an energized ‘unchained’ set to a very sold out First Avenue in Minneapolis on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day. A four-piece that formed four years ago in Edinburgh, the Djangos played a jubilant 65 min. set, dressed in near-matching patterned shirts, with a four-panel venetian blind-styled backdrop which had smiley faces, lyrics, and patterns projected on it (though with not a lot of overall light, as it stayed dark most of the set).
Their music can be described as a unique mix of older rhythms, drum & bass and indie rock mixed with futuristic bits/bytes – with three of the members also from experimental outfit The Phantom Band and drummer/producer David Maclean being the brother of Beta Band’s John Maclean, it becomes obvious that the band enjoys its improv and building on a beat.
Starting with the single ‘Hail Bop’, the music and general vibe was more buoyant than on record with the band members happily engaging the crowd and encouraging interplay. The crowd responded, though were more content to just lay back and take in the spectacle- the throbbing beats would have made glow sticks and whistles not out of place; but instead, when the stage screen rose up to start the show, so did clouds of that special herb.
Bass player Jimmy Dixon got the crowd moving with a bluesy/house ‘Firewater’ (an appropriate song about drinking), while synth player Tommy Grace kept busy between multiple keyboards and banging a giant tambourine. Beats, kick drum, and echo effects continued into ‘Hand of Man’ answering that ‘more cowbell’ request everyone was probably thinking, but hadn’t yet vocalized. ‘Skies over Cairo’ followed, with an Egyptian backbeat with House overtones that uplifted the crowd again.
During their single, ‘Default’ (which predictably got the night’s biggest response) Grace followed up by picking up the cowbell…and hitting it with a maraca (yes, you read that right), while vocalist/guitarist Vincent Neff jumped about, genuinely pleased by the packed throngs, remarking what an honor it was to play the famous club.
Their music can be described as a unique mix of older rhythms, drum & bass and indie rock mixed with futuristic bits/bytes – with three of the members also from experimental outfit The Phantom Band and drummer/producer David Maclean being the brother of Beta Band’s John Maclean, it becomes obvious that the band enjoys its improv and building on a beat.
Starting with the single ‘Hail Bop’, the music and general vibe was more buoyant than on record with the band members happily engaging the crowd and encouraging interplay. The crowd responded, though were more content to just lay back and take in the spectacle- the throbbing beats would have made glow sticks and whistles not out of place; but instead, when the stage screen rose up to start the show, so did clouds of that special herb.
Bass player Jimmy Dixon got the crowd moving with a bluesy/house ‘Firewater’ (an appropriate song about drinking), while synth player Tommy Grace kept busy between multiple keyboards and banging a giant tambourine. Beats, kick drum, and echo effects continued into ‘Hand of Man’ answering that ‘more cowbell’ request everyone was probably thinking, but hadn’t yet vocalized. ‘Skies over Cairo’ followed, with an Egyptian backbeat with House overtones that uplifted the crowd again.
During their single, ‘Default’ (which predictably got the night’s biggest response) Grace followed up by picking up the cowbell…and hitting it with a maraca (yes, you read that right), while vocalist/guitarist Vincent Neff jumped about, genuinely pleased by the packed throngs, remarking what an honor it was to play the famous club.
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We’ll have to come back again
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After the last song, the crowd booed when hearing it was the end, Neff remarking “we only have one album out, we’ll have to come back again”. Assuming Django Django continues to ride their current wave of popularity, they can expect another sold out house and more than receptive audience.
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Django Django at First Avenue, Minneapolis (03/16/13) |
Such a deep retro feel! Totally love it!!! This band gives such a west coast vibe! real cool
Posted by: Face The King | 03/19/2013 at 11:05 PM