A kick-ass, high-octane rock'n'roll explosion! That basically sums up The Datsuns. I swear I haven't seen a band like this in years, pure energy, pure fury, and pure undiluted rock music, unaffected by 21st century knowing irony. Like The D**kness with the shit washed out. These guys are deadly serious. That's not to say their music is without humour, you just have to catch some of the lyrics to realise that, but its delivered with intensity and sincerity, and a blustering hubris that knocks you sideways.

Apart from a few month break to make their new album Outta Sight/Outta Mind, with Zep legend John Paul Jones in the producers seat, the band have been on the road constantly since leaving New Zealand little over two years ago. And it shows, right from the first note to the last. Nothing is out of place, seemingly improvised jam sections jump out of songs straight at you, fully formed and delicious. A sure sign of a live show honed to perfection through endless gigging. The band kick off with Sittin' Pretty, the opening track from their eponymous first album, savage yet melodic, short and sharp. This is immediately followed by That Sure Ain't Right from the new album. And that's the way the band continue, alternating a new song with a well-known favourite. This definitely keeps the packed and hot Limelight bouncing, a mosh pit forming around the front few rows right from the off and never letting up once. What really catches me here is how good the new songs sound interspersed between the sing-a-long Motherfuckerer From Hell and iconic Harmonic Generator. The Datsuns music has an immediacy; you get it first time you hear it and it doesn't let go. Like a good DC number, instantly catchy but with a longevity that lasts hundreds of listens. Its obvious this band don't want to straightjacket their set early in their careers either, deciding to dispense with their only two classics to date, mentioned above, early on in proceedings. The main set reaches a climax with Fink For The Man, an anti music industry number that starts off in a rage before breaking down into a Doors like mid-section. The band really flexes their musical muscle on this song and sound superb. The rhythm guitarist holds close to the drum riser, ringing out booming riffs while front man and bassist Dolf De Datsun powers through catchy bass lines. At the front left is the silent but flashy lead player, pulling out his best one handed playing tricks a la Angus Young and behind the back playing tricks a la Jimi Hendrix. He certainly knows his way around an electric guitar.

The band played two encores, the first a three-song salvo that included the Who tinged soon to be live favourite Hong Kong Fury and finished with the raucous Freeze Sucker, the last track from their debut. That was it I thought but the Limelight crowd simply refused to leave, standing facing the stage chanting the bands name and stamping their feet. One of their roadies came on and geed the crowd up further before the Datsuns made a welcome return for a second encore. They admitted to the crowd they had run out of songs and thanked them for the unbelievable reception with what seemed like genuine feeling and surprise. An old demo track from before the first album was pulled out of the bag, whether this was all part of a choreographed ending or winging it I can't be sure. But does it matter? The song was a giddy mix of amazing seventies rock riffs, peppered with belligerent punk style vocals. After that the lads simply rip into an extended Jam/Song with one line of repeated lyric "Thank You Ladies And Gentleman". Refreshing for sure. As the Jam reached a crescendo the rhythm guitarist threw off his instrument and started battering the drums; four sticks always sound better than two! At this the frontman/bassist also removed his guitar and began tearing up the drum kit. This was real wild club show antics and it all seemed pretty spontaneous. As the whole noisy ensemble reached a seemingly never ending climax a young girl from the audience jumped on stage and began playing bass in perfect time with the rest of the band. Absolutely superb stuff! The drum kit now truly mangled, the rhythm guitarist decided to go for a stage dive, and after a few surfs around the enthralled crowd, calmly exited the rear of the mosh pit, walked to the bar and ordered a pint while the remainder of his band mates left the stage, stunned and ecstatic.

The Datsuns came to Belfast, the crowd were up for it and so were the band, and they delivered what surely must have been one of the best gigs they have played in their short careers. I departed soaking with sweat and bleary eyed, bemused and relieved to have witnessed a young up and coming band dish up a ferocious slab of lean pure rock'n'roll, the likes of which I thought was beyond this generation. Lets hope they receive the success they deserve and remind those around them what this music is meant to be about.

DUCK