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Classic rock cover band Dillon Lane Syndicate performed fan favorites from the rock and roll archives of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Their live performance on Saturday, April 29 at Bay Ridge, Brooklyn’s supper club Schnitzel Haus, famous for their authentic German cuisine, resonated a Rite of Spring celebration that galvanized locals and tourists to the historic hub. The evening provided good music from a band weaned on vintage roots rock music.
Known by their acronym DLS, the quartet delivered a passionate rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” driven by the smooth swagger of Sylvester Lane’s bluesy textured vocals. The rockabilly twang of Brian Dillon’s guitar chords in “The Killing Moon,” a tune penned by Echo and the Bunnymen, displayed a vigor and bluesy Memphis-style vamp reminiscent of Carl Perkins. Complementing Dillon’s western country-imbued riffs was the rhythm section of bassist Andy Mattina and drummer Joe Mitch, keeping the audience’s feet tapping and heads bopping to the catchy tempo.
Rock and roll romps like the Beatles’ classic single “Back in the U.S.S.R.” and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “The House Is Rockin'” held guests in rapt attention, ignoring their hot platters in favor of the infectious revelry. The reggae overtones silhouetting “Confusion” showcased the band’s versatility while their affinity for resurrecting golden oldies shined through in their workmanship of Jethro Tull’s psychedelic rock novelty “Locomotive Breath.”
DLS infused a country rock hue in their passionate presentations of the Rolling Stones’ obscure track “19th Nervous Breakdown” and Neil Diamond’s “I Am I Said.” Their remodeling of Elvis Presley’s popular tune “Suspicious Minds” brought out the comfy syncopation of Lane’s vocals and Dillon’s fretwork, displaying a rich simpatico. The band plunged into bluesy vistas with their medley of Chuck Berry hits, including “Run Rudolph Run” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Lane’s sultry vocals articulated the emotive curves of Grand Funk Railroad’s “Some Kind of Wonderful” and switches to a caressing, prayer-like sonorous through Presley’s alluring ballad, “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”
Equally as good as the originals, Dillon Lane Syndicate keep the iridescence of classic rock’s flame burning bright. The band will be participating in the New York City-wide event Make Music New York that is held each year on June 21. Several other cities across the country will also be celebrating the summer solstice with live concerts along with New York City. DLS will be performing at Sunset Park’s 2017 Make Music NY concert located on 5th Avenue and 51st Street in Brooklyn. Bring a chair and a cooler of soft drinks and be prepared to enjoy the band’s delivery of some good old-fashioned roots rock tunes based in the heartland of America.
Setlist:
“Plush,” “Son of a Gun,” “Poison Ivy,” “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” “Confusion,” “The Letter,” “19th Nervous Breakdown,” “Chuck Berry Medley,” “I Am I Said,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Hallelujah,” “The Killing Moon,” “Turn Turn Turn,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “The House Is Rockin’,” “The Boys Are Back in Town,” “Locomotive Breath,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” “Life on a Farm,” “Laid,” “Island in the Sun,” “Santeria,” “Stand by Me,” “Time Is on My Side,” “Police and Thieves,” “Only Wanna Be with You,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Treat Her Like a Lady,” “Tainted Love,” “Come on Feel the Noise,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Only Wanna Be with You,” “Red Neck Friend,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Moving on,” “Whiskey in the Jar,” “Creep,” “Paint It Black,” “The Kids Are Alright,” “Cracked Actor,” “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Secret Agent Man,” “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone,” “Hold Your Head Up,” “I’m a Man”
