Reviews

dusty soundsystem

Dusty Soundsystem are an acoustic duo comprised of two guys, the lead singer being referred to as 'Dusty' and the other guitarist as 'Sound'. Their music was comprised of mellow singer/songwriter based songs and the lead singers vocal style remiinded me a little of Elliot Smith.

They successfully managed to create the relaxed atmosphere in Porter to suit their music by sitting either side of a table on the stage with a candle burning, an ashtray and two beers. Their was a large Japanese and Spanish community in the bar tonight and I think these guys may have made a few new fans judging by the levels of enthusiasm. I enjoyed these guys. Yes it was your standard singer/songwriter gentle songs but I really liked a lot of their lyrics.

They had everything from your standard relationship songs to very clever social and political numbers. "All my medals I had to sell them, I couldn't tell them I was a soldier" the frontman sang in the first song. This was followed by a similiar vi! be and then a song called 'Don't Sleep Alone'. An interesting song followed entitled 'You Can't Fool All People All The Time' and then another political song called 'A Nation At War'. It was dedicated to an American friend of theirs and as Mr. Sound is from Lebanon himself they felt really strongly about this culture of fear that has been created for anyone who is essentially not a W.A.S.P.

It included some good harmonica playing and began with a general take on our present society. "There's some trash on the television turning all the free women into whores" followed by "They're turning up the country and turning us all into outlaws, the world keeps on turning and my mind is like a nation at war". They took a break at this point before going into their second set which began with 'Martin Luther King Day' Similiar vibe through the second set which consisted of a Neil Young cover of 'Heart Of Gold', a song with a chorus of "I'm the one and only lost boy" and a song written w! hile on a trip through the desert among others. Enjoyable set and good lyrics although possibly a little too long to sustain the same atmosphere without getting boring.

Ed Hutchinson