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After a brief introduction from VH1's That Metal Show co-hosts Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, Danko made his way to the stage with long time bass player JC and most recent drummer Dan Cornelius in tow. They opened with I Think Bad Thoughts, the new single off of their most recent album Below The Belt, and it became very clear who the crowd was there for. Antagonizing the staff of the venue by making it very clear that the set was going to be cut short because they had to let in 'The Lady Gaga People' at 11pm, Jones' trademark bravado was in full swing, wondering aloud if maybe the reason the place wasn't packed was because Bon Jovi was in town and then asking us politely not to make fun of Bon Jovi. Richie Sambora did fuck Heather Locklear after all, and Danko was good enough to remind us that TJ Hooker was worth watching for her presence alone.
The rest of the night was a good mix of the old and the new and the band verbally showed their appreciation by thanking those of us who had been following them long enough to request some older songs. Thankfully a few of those made it into the set list, as the more recent Active Volcanoes lead into Play The Blues, Forget My Name before kicking into Sleep Is The Enemy's Sticky Situation, First Date and Baby Hates Me. The band went back to the newer album to play Full Of Regret before finishing off with established classics in Sugar Chocolate, Sugar High, an extras dirty version of Lovercall and closing with Mountain.
It was obvious that the band wanted to play longer and a damn shame that the venue wasn't going to let that happen. Danko pointed out that in situations like this, rock and roll is losing, and his point was made quite clear when the show wound up at 11pm without an encore. The hour they did play, however, was proof positive that the war hasn't lost and in an age where bands are selling out left right and center, there's still a lot of life left if you know where to look for it. Here's hoping their threat of returning to NYC and playing a bigger venue wasn't an idle one, and fingers crossed that it doesn't take two years to happen.
Next time he should play our place. No end times, no large 60-something couples and GOOD Stella...