Think of Janis Joplin’s voice or – in some songs – of that of Melissa Etheridge. Mix this with the ‘looks’ of Madonna in her Ray Of Light days, Joss Stone or our own Anouk. And blend this with a shot of power and energy. The result: Dana Fuchs and her band. A vigorous crowd in the Dutch pop venue W2 in Den Bosch really enjoyed her tonight’s show. And so did LiveStreamMagazine.
A concert of Dana Fuchs stands for an impressive and emotional experience. Her music is intensely personal and got a raw edge. One knows that personal suffering – the passing away of a loved one or the break-up of a dear relationship or love affair – as well as the temptation of a big and vibrant city can lead to an inexhaustible inspiration for musicians. And that’s exactly what a 19 year-old Dana Fuchs had to cope with when she moves from her hometown Wildwood, Florida to New York.
She then finds herself in abusing liquor and drugs and working in a strip-club to make some money. Until she’s confronted with the suicide of her sister and realizes that she’s destroying her own life. Then she also realizes that music gives her an opportunity to escape this dead end road to destruction. This turning point in her life is the beginning of the Dana Fuchs Band. With Dana as leading lady, singer and eye-catcher. And friend and guitarist Jon Diamond as her faithful companion. On this tour they are backed by their usual European band members Piero Perelli on drums and Walter Latupeirissa on bass.
Personal events are an important source of inspiration for Dana Fuch’s music which is not only proven by her lyrics but also by her introduction of some of the songs. Before playing and singing So Hard To Move Fuchs explains the story behind this song: the passing away of her brother. “It was a night that started out as a cozy dinner but ended in an emergency room of a hospital where we basically heard a death sentence. We had to let go of him six months later.” Then Fuchs adds: “With that in mind, I say: I’m going to celebrate ‘fucking’ life!”
Well, this really puts a song in a different perspective. However, sometimes a title of a song can be misleading too. One of the highlights of tonight’s show – a widely drawn out version of the beautiful song Misery – proves so. Meant and announced as a tribute to love, but with an implication of insecurity as if one can’t believe that he or she can be lucky in love. “I think you are just like me – holding on to Misery, needing something to believe in….” To finish and conclude the song with “Aren’t you tired of being alone? Me, I’d rather be lonely on my own.”
Tonight´s show is this year´s last one in Europe. Dana and Jon are flying back to the United States to do one more acoustic show on the 12th of December. Drummer Piero Perelli will return to his hometown in Lucca, Italy. And for bass player Walter Latupeirissa this was something of a home game, he lives in nearby Vught and could ride home on his bicycle, so to speak.
After a great and almost two hour show it´s time to say goodbye and Dana Fuchs does so with an amiable ´See you next year’. This final show puts an end to their European tour. And Dana Fuchs and her band made it a memorable one. I think they loved it. And I´m damn sure the fans loved it.
