Starting this month, Hard Rock Cafe introduces a new live music series. Four resident rock bands will take the stage six days a week (sorry, Monday night party animals) between 8.30pm and 12.30am. Without further ado, tabloid! introduces you to The Distillers, Vinyl Revival, Funk Power and Dirty Suits…
SUNDAYS with Dirty Suits
Darren Constable, Dave Rowe, Josh Bannister, Adrian D’Elia.
Formed in: 2015
The sound: Guitar-driven rock.
Favourite cover song: The Cult — She Sells Sanctuary.
At the Hard Rock gigs, people can expect: “A true rock ‘n roll experience from truly experienced rock ‘n rollers, and lots of guitar,” says D’Elia. The band doesn’t have any album yet. “Too busy rockin’ out so we can pay rent and DEWA bills,” he says.
The perfect rock gig is: “One where the audience feeds off the band energy and the band feeds off the audience.”
Favourite band(s) of all time: Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Black Crows, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Kid Rock, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Guns’n Roses
TUESDAYS with Vinyl Revival
Dan Talbot, Bex O’Brien, Adrian D’Elia, Frankie Beauchesne, Josh Bannister.
Formed in: 2016
The sound: Retro rock meets modern energy.
Favourite cover song: Janis Joplin — Piece of My Heart.
At the Hard Rock gigs, people can expect: “Fun, energetic sets filled with the very best in classic rock tunes. Expect great jams, proper solos, and big sounds,” says D’Elia, who performs in three of the bands.
The perfect rock gig is: “A packed venue with great sound, and most importantly a great and responsive audience.”
Favourite band(s) of all time: Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Van Halen, Rush.
WEDNESDAYS with Funk Power
Carrie Gibson, Andrew Jankura, D’Elia, Eric Roberts.
Formed in: 2016
The sound: “A melodic cocktail of funk, jazz, rock and soul,” says Roberts.
Favourite cover song: The Beatles — Come Together.
At the Hard Rock gigs, people can expect: “To be entertained.”
The perfect rock gig is: “There is no perfect gig — even Woodstock had a ton of problems.”
Favourite band(s) of all time: Tower of Power.
THURSDAYS TO SATURDAYS with The Distillers
Sheenagh Murray, Ben Harris, Fox Fäehrmann, Ross Swanton, Roberto Wilson
Formed in: 2015
The sound: “Authentic,” says Swanton. “We try to capture the sound of whatever song we happen to be covering while still sounding like ‘us’.”
Favourite cover song: “Honestly, it’s whatever song we’re playing at that moment. It’s more about putting together a fun set list as opposed to looking forward to a ‘favourite song’.”
At the Hard Rock gigs, people can expect: “To see a band passionate about what they do, who loves to interact with the crowd. The Distillers definitely isn’t one of those bands who stand in one spot and simply ‘play songs’.”
The perfect rock gig is: “When the band is clicking and the crowd is participating and singing back to us as loud as we’re giving it to them.”
Favourite band(s) of all time: “The list would be too long for this article, but Lamb of God, Karnivool, Keith Urban, Incubus and Pearl Jam [to] name a few.”
Do you have any albums out? “All of us, apart from Sheenagh, are members of a studio session band called The Ghost Crew, so we’ve been a part of a number of recordings that are actually due to release in 2016. Check out the album GoPlayTheWorld Vol.1 [on iTunes and Deezer].”
Call 04-2328900 or check out hardrock.com/dubai.
