Caught the Contra Costa-based Damn Dirty Apes band at Handles Brew Pub in Pleasanton on a recent saturday night. Handles is located in what used to be the bar of the Pleasanton Hotel & Restaurant on Main St. The new owners spent a chunk of money renovating the building, and nowhere was the renovation more badly needed than the bar, which was a dark musty cave with too many tufted vinyl chairs. Trapped in the sixties...and not in a good way.
The DDA play straight-ahead rock and roll classics and have a great deal of fun doing it. This is the real deal, so if you are waiting for the usual wedding reception band blah blah blah, you're out of luck. This is good time party-rock. Jeans, tee-shirts and sneakers, and enough big heaping sets of AC/DC, Tom Petty, Grand Funk Railroad, to get your feet moving on the dance floor.
DDA is blessed with three strong guitars, an obvious asset for a band that plays this genre of music. No over-indulgent extended solos to slow things down. Steve Chapman's lead guitar work and strong vocals will resonate with baby boomers. Craig Lyons' (guitarist and lead vocals) is at his best on the Tom Petty tunes. His powerful, versatile voice on "American Girl" was a high-point of the night.
Setting the DDA apart from other classic rock bands is keyboard player and vocalist Charlotte Stephens. Charlotte channels Pat Benetar and Joan Jett like she was born to it, and her background, or should I say "co-vocals" with lead guitarist Steve Chapman add a richness that takes the music up several notches. Did I mention she also plays a mean harmonica?
Enthroned behind the "wall of guitarists" is Charlotte's hub and my boss, Mike Stephens. His drumming style is punchy, precise, and energetic. You can tell he is having fun, and his energy and personality reach all the way to the far side of the dance floor. Mike and bass guitarist Dave Mercurio team up to pound out an infectious rythym from the first tune to the last.
From the opening bars of "We're an American Band" you will feel like you are back at that dive bar on First Street. Without the cigarette smoke. They will be playing Handles in Pleasanton again on December 15th.
For great musicianship, a solid playlist of classic rock, and an overall good time, check out the Damn Dirty Apes.
Here is a link to their webpage: http://www.damndirtyapesband.com/index.htm
The DDA play straight-ahead rock and roll classics and have a great deal of fun doing it. This is the real deal, so if you are waiting for the usual wedding reception band blah blah blah, you're out of luck. This is good time party-rock. Jeans, tee-shirts and sneakers, and enough big heaping sets of AC/DC, Tom Petty, Grand Funk Railroad, to get your feet moving on the dance floor.
DDA is blessed with three strong guitars, an obvious asset for a band that plays this genre of music. No over-indulgent extended solos to slow things down. Steve Chapman's lead guitar work and strong vocals will resonate with baby boomers. Craig Lyons' (guitarist and lead vocals) is at his best on the Tom Petty tunes. His powerful, versatile voice on "American Girl" was a high-point of the night.
Setting the DDA apart from other classic rock bands is keyboard player and vocalist Charlotte Stephens. Charlotte channels Pat Benetar and Joan Jett like she was born to it, and her background, or should I say "co-vocals" with lead guitarist Steve Chapman add a richness that takes the music up several notches. Did I mention she also plays a mean harmonica?
Enthroned behind the "wall of guitarists" is Charlotte's hub and my boss, Mike Stephens. His drumming style is punchy, precise, and energetic. You can tell he is having fun, and his energy and personality reach all the way to the far side of the dance floor. Mike and bass guitarist Dave Mercurio team up to pound out an infectious rythym from the first tune to the last.
From the opening bars of "We're an American Band" you will feel like you are back at that dive bar on First Street. Without the cigarette smoke. They will be playing Handles in Pleasanton again on December 15th.
For great musicianship, a solid playlist of classic rock, and an overall good time, check out the Damn Dirty Apes.
Here is a link to their webpage: http://www.damndirtyapesband.com/index.htm
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