Dire Streets at The Tunnels - Live Music Review
Posted on: 2018-04-10
Our rating:
Joined occasionally by the silky, sultry renderings of Steve Wiltshire's delicious sax and flute performances, the group segued effortless from one guitar rock classic to the next.
The cavernous environs of Bristol's The Tunnels was alive and kicking with the magnificent, unmistakable guitar-infused sounds of Dire Straits tribute band, Dire Streets, on Friday 6th April 2018.
For generations who grew up on the distinctive riffs and grooves of the late 70s Brit rock band, this was a treat from start to finish, with the spot-on covers played with fervent enthusiasm by the faithful ensemble; versions so uncannily accurate it was nigh on impossible to differentiate them from the originals.
To that end, it's easy to see why Dire Streets is regarded as one of the - and, from the superlative musicianship on display Friday night, arguably THE best - Dire Straits tribute groups in the country. Their passion and enthusiasm for the music was infectious and rubbed off on the spirited crowd who lapped up every note of their sonically reverential interpretations.
Unlike many cover bands, they also eschewed the frequent necessity to dress up in the same attire as their influences, so pink suits and headbands had been abandoned for a more casual look, therefore precluding any unnecessary sartorial distractions and simply just letting the music speak for itself.
Fronted by lead singer and guitarist John Brunsdon, the galvanized crowd was treated to a riveting run-through of Dire Straits classics. Down to the Waterline was followed by Your Latest Trick and Romeo and Juliet, showcasing the band's faultless skills and accuracy for the material. Sultans of Swing, perhaps Straits' most well-known song, was met with eardrum-splitting cheers and, by the end of a truly astonishing performance, howls and hoots of awe-inspired appreciation. This is a tribute band that kicks some serious derriere.
Joined occasionally by the silky, sultry renderings of Steve Wiltshire's delicious sax and flute performances, the group segued effortless from one guitar rock classic to the next. There was some seriously cool, seemingly effortless musical artistry going on here, with Brunden's vocals (to my ear, slightly harsher and grittier than original lead Mark Knopfler's) maintaining a consistent power and authority amidst some incredible, frenetic finger work, dizzying riffs, blistering showmanship and tight, slick performances.
The Bug, Telegraph Road and Twisting by the Pool brought the stunning set to a more than satisfying close, bringing the curtain down on a back-catalogue blowout of Dire Straits classics which were reproduced with stunning musical acuity by a cover band clearly at the top of their game.
Article by:
Jamie is a writer, blogger, journalist, critic, film fan, soundtrack nerd and all-round Bristolian good egg. He loves the music of Philip Glass, the art of Salvador Dali, the writings of Charles Bukowksi and Hunter S Thompson, the irreverence of Harry Hill, and the timeless, straw-chomping exuberance of The Wurzels. You can sometimes find him railing against a surging tide of passing cyclists, or gorging himself senseless on the Oriental delights of a Cosmos all-you-can-eat buffet.
