The quiet young man entered stage left, settled himself on a stool and opened with some pure acoustic Spanish guitar before switching instruments and genres for some Led Zepplin-style rock… and his new album, 20 Stones, instantly shot up to the top of my Must Buy List. In typical blues rock style, many of Dan Patlansky’s songs are dominated by long, semi-improvised instrumental interludes, which carry a mesmerised audience through a crashing surf zone of impassioned music.
Now 30 years old, Patlansky has been making waves for some time on the South African music scene. His mastery of traditional soulful blues was spot on with a cover of BB King’s ‘You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now’. BB would have been proud of this unassuming white boy from Jo’burg. And it’s not just his playing (his endorsement by Fender speaks for itself there) but his voice also has real power – a proper smoky-rough, rich growl that no doubt set hearts a-flutter throughout the audience at Kirstenbosch yesterday.
Now it could be that they are quite genuinely all good mates, but the guest appearances of not only Ross Learmonth, lead singer of Prime Circle, but Theo Crous, lead guitar for the Springbok Nude Girls, led a further endorsement to the rising star that is Dan Patlansky. This boy is going places and even those who have already ‘made it’ want to be a part of the ride.
With Crous doing his famous head banging riffs and Learmonth grinning into his mike as a backing singer, Patlansky switched to Jimi Hendrix mode, and I swear he made his guitar meiow. I was reminded of that scene from Back to the Future when Marty steps in as guitarist at the school dance and, elated by his success in bringing his parents together, treats the audience to some music from their future. When he chooses to, Patlansky can really let it rip.
And Patlansky wasn’t the only Fender-endorsed artist on stage. Natasha Meister acted as his warm up, and popped on stage a little later to join him for a song. This skinny, long haired, laid back rock chick can certainly play guitar, and has the voice to cover both Amy Winehouse and Adele without obvious effort. Canadian by birth, but South African by heritage, we can only hope that she’ll put down roots here. Definitely one to watch out for. Now where’s that list?
Daisy Ions
Dan Patlansky and Natasha Meister performed at Kirstenbosch on 22 January 2012. For more of their performances, keep an eye on www.WhatsoninCapeTown.com.
