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If those who have seen Dan Patlansky support either Joe Satriani last year or King King more recently, yet have not seen the South African perform a full set of his own, be sure not to miss the man the next time he is in town because there is absolutely no question whatsoever that this is man destined to be selling out venues sooner rather than later.
Ahead of the man from Pretoria, however, Tristan McKay underlined precisely why his beautifully crafted acoustic guitar playing, thoughtful lyrics and silky-smooth vocals are being so widely talked of. Listen to the near ‘Death on Two Legs’ barbs pointed towards a former cohort that underpin Lovely By Myself, then contrast these with sheer poetry of World Above the Waves.
What you will recognise then is that McKay has an ease and sense of comfort whilst on stage, mixed with some very pertinent and well observed things to say through his music that can only garner ever wider recognition.
With the small, tight venue of Chester Live Rooms beginning to swelter nicely, onto the stage strolled the main attraction and, following a little tweak of his strings, a bit of foot tapping and a brief shout out of welcome, Dan Patlansky proceeded to rip the place apart for the following 90 + minutes.
Starting with Drone from Dear Silence Thieves, it is almost as though he and Andy Martiz on drums and Clint Falconer on Bass are warming up before the heavier riffing and chopping take place. The piece is immaculate and a mere taste of what is to follow. Sonnova Faith from Introvertigo rides in straight on the back of the opener, with its acerbic lyrics taking a pop not at religion per se, but at those who use it for their own ends and all mixed with some powerhouse guitar work.
The latest single, Stop The Messin’, quickly follows. Instantly everything but the man voted #4 of Best Blues Players on the planet at the moment is forgotten. His relaxed, easy style contradicts the vigour and energy of Patlansky’s playing so that at times it is almost like being in second gear when he talks – which he does occasionally between songs – then being thrust into fifth without bothering with those numbers that come in between, and as smoothly as water spreading across glass.
The highlights are many, with arguably two of the strongest from Introvertigo, Heartbeat and Bet On Me, almost stealing the show with their thumping, anthemic rhythms proving tailor made for the live arena.
Fetch Your Spade Bring the World to its Knees, are all cool melody and harmonised musicianship, whereas Still Wanna Be Your Man holds not only beautiful lyrics filled with loss and home sickness it is offset with the most dynamic, chilled out guitar solo that underlines the man’s skills as a player.
Yet it is without doubt what he does on My Chana – a true exhibition of his stage presence and ability to make that thing he wields so well and with such power it is almost as though he hates the battered Fender he plays – that will live longest in the memory. The audience are agog throughout before finally exploding into grateful applause.
Hold On and a delightful Daddy’s Got A Gun might bring a superb show to a close, but rest assured that on this evidence it won’t be long before Dan Patlansky is begged to return so as to stamp his authority on the UK Blues scene once again.
A truly magical night of Bues-Rock indeed.
Dan Patlansky: Introvertigo 2016
Support: Tristan McKay
Chester Live Rooms
12th June, 2016
PR Rating: ***** Exceptional