Dire Straits were at their height one of the world’s great live Rock acts. They had pretty decent records too. Formed and led by guitar auteur Mark Knopfler, success and active years occupied the late seventies to the early nineties.
With the group disbanding in the mid-90’s, Knopfler has remained content to continue forging his solo career, with no intention of reviving or returning to DS. Whilst still gaining regular radio play around the world, the legacy of Dire Straits has been in recent times rekindled thanks to Knopfler’s blessing and a collaboration of former members, session players and DS devotees.
Enter the Dire Straits Legacy band.
This tour includes a bumper selection of local acts and one other international Rock act. With the weather in northern parts of the country seeming almost always inclement, the skies stayed gratefully clear for this summer tour highlight, as a sizeable crowd built up for a late arvo start at the outdoor venue of the Matakana Country Park.
Local 5-piece Uncommon State opened with a spritely bracket of psychedelic Pop, doing justice to close arrangements of both Floyd’s Shine on You Crazy Diamond and Santana’s version of Peter Green’s classic Black Magic Woman.
A couple of their own tunes in there too, giving space for Tommy David to stretch out a great solo on keys. Keep an eye and ear out for these talented youths.
Our own legacy band Hello Sailor entered the fold and peeled off a string of their most loved songs.
With Harry Lyon at the helm these days, the lads swaggered through Watch Ya Back, with keys virtuoso Stephen Small ably doubling up on saxophone, the brave new world of New Tattoo, and some tasty guitar work from Jimmy Taylor on Lying in the Sand.
Lyon slotted in his own Doctor I Like Your Medicine from his Coup D’Etat days, before pointing to the sky in acknowledgment of Graham Brazier for the classic Billy Bold (as well as a nod to their former manager David Gapes, battling health issues).
By the time they launched into Latin Lover, people were up for the dance. While the most seaworthy rhythm section of drummer Ricky Ball and bassist Paul Wal Woolright were ably up for it also.
Another shoutout followed, this time for Dave McArtney, as the splendidly rhythmic Gutter Black got the party started.
Fittingly, Blue Lady rounded off Sailor’s set, both songs seemingly timeless Kiwi classics. Well done that band.
Straight outta Scotland, Nazareth hit the stage with the immediate smell of sorcery.
Miss Misery and Razamanaz subtracted the glam for their petrol-fumed rock.
Vocalist Carl Sentance flaunted the stage, donning a Motörhead tee & ripped jeans. Get the vibe?
Turn On Your Receiver and This Flight Tonight fuelled the fire, while Beggar’s Day flirted between spiritual realms.
A highlight was having original bassist Pete Agnew in the lineup, who played with much vibrancy. Perhaps partly enabled by the fact that his son Lee is the current drummer in the group.
And he lent more cowbell to drive Hair of the Dog, along with Jimmy Murrison’s steely guitar work.
The one we were all waiting for, the band’s smash version of Gram Parsons Love Hurts (written by Boudleaux Bryant) didn’t disappoint!
Another well-covered number Morning Dew closed Nazareth’s set, with Sentance giving Pete Agnew the floor to setup a chooglin’ bass line and smile. 55 years of rocking and counting from that man.
A little longer to set up the stage (those percussion rigs huh), and with quiet anticipation the 8-strong Dire Straits Legacy took to the stage, constructing the atmospheric Private Investigations into something special.
Half of this lineup had toured and recorded with Dire Straits originally, including Mel Collins (sax), Alan Clark (keys), Phil Palmer (guitar) and Danny Cummings (percussion).
Collins (King Crimson, Miss You Rolling Stones) and Palmer (Eric Clapton) in particular were the ones to watch out for, such was the seasoning and sheer quality of their sound.
Dance-floor sure-fires Skateaway and Expresso Love (both from 1980’s Making Movies) built a platform for a succession of radio staples that dominated the rest of their set.
Down To the Waterline was tightly executed, lead singer and guitarist Marco Caviglia faithfully honouring Knopfler’s trademark Strat guitar style and characteristic bounce.
More selections from Making Movies. Tunnel Of Love and the romantic ballad Romeo & Juliet moved the band into high revs, culminating in an exquisite performance of Telegraph Road.
Musical director of sorts, Alan Clark set up the peace anthem Brothers In Arms, and then Collins leading with some Zumba sway moves, struck gold with his solo’s during Your Latest Trick.
Palmer showed his versatility with some country-picking licks on Setting Me Up, before the granddaddy, Sultans of Swing crescendoed the evening.
Money For Nothing included the distinctive intro drum solo from Cristiano Micalizzi, with Clark subbing Sting’s vocal and utilising a vocoder.
A solitary encore in So Far Away concluded a lengthy value for money day/evening packed with a musical array of goodness.
The Dire Straits Legacy tour concludes the NZ leg of their world tour in New Plymouth at Bowl of Brooklands tonight. Check it out.
Mike Beck
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Dire Straits Legacy
Nazareth
Hello Sailor
Uncommon State
Setlists
Uncommon State
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pink Floyd cover)
New unreleased original
Shadow Of the Sun
Black Magic Woman (Peter Green/Santana cover)
Hello Sailor
Watch Ya Back
New Tattoo
Doctor, I Like Your Medicine
Never Fade Away
Lying In the Sand
Billy Bold
Latin Lover/Winning Ticket
Please Tease Me
Gutter Black
Blue Lady
Nazareth
Miss Misery
Razamanaz
Turn On Your Receiver
This Flight Tonight
Sunshine
Beggars Day
Changing Times
Hair Of the Dog
Love Hurts
Morning Dew
Dire Straits Legacy
Private Investigations
Expresso Love
Skateaway
Down To the Waterline
Tunnel Of Love
Romeo & Juliet
Telegraph Road
Brothers In Arms
Your Latest Trick
Solid Rock
Walk Of Life
Setting Me Up
Sultans Of Swing
Money For Nothing
So Far Away (encore)