Heroes and Influences: Rob Dainton

I’ve been assembling my thoughts and ideas about inspiration and the music I find myself attracted to, together with the people who create and facilitate it. I’ve been exploring all the usual heroes and influences, but at one point in considering this list, I came across a truly immeasurable, inspirational man, who didn’t fit any category, or who could even be considered in any way comparable to anyone else. Where better to begin an exploration of your heroes and influences than with this man?

Rob Dainton is an exceptional musician, a true gentleman, and someone I’m proud to call a friend. I don’t see him anywhere near enough these days, but at one time I played guitar in a band with him, and it was one of the hardest working and serious bands I’ve ever been involved with. Where heroes and inspirational people are not normally considered to be amongst people who we consider our friends, Rob qualifies as one of these people for a number of important reasons.

Rob plays the drums as if he was conducting an orchestra and the drums are actually just in the way! I’ve seen and heard him get some sounds out of a drum kit that are astonishing. He is resourceful enough to successfully convert almost anything into a useable tool that he can assimilate into his drum kit (so long as it makes the sound he requires), I’ve watched in amazement as he’s used these improvised instruments, breathe on cymbals to create the effect he wants, using sticks, brushes, small rocks, cloth, anything! The man is a bottomless well of ideas, packaged into moments of freely improvised genius. Spiritually absorbed in what he plays to the extent that he is absolutely immersed in a state of ‘contribution’, his drum stool is his church. He is one of the most (if not, the most) resourceful, sensitive, creative, and expressive musicians I have ever known.

Beyond his incredible musical skills, I found him to be an inspirational man in as much as his drive and unshakable focus on the direction he wants to take his music are absolutely formidable. Although how else can such an individual carve their way in the world? As the expression suggests “To be different in this world requires great strength. Let a budgie fly out into the open and the sparrows kill it”. He is a man of immense strength, vision, and resolve.

If you ever want to go and see something beyond any gig you will have seen before, or want to see a totally uncompromised performance of absorbed and passionate genius, look up where Rob Dainton may be playing next, and check out the gig.

This Devastated Fan

Occasionally, some interesting things happen to musicians, and what happened to me one very recent evening was very much an embodiment of "interesting" and at the same time, a fantastic request from some very good people...

Some years ago, I had the pleasure of teaching a young man named Robbie Cavanagh how to play the guitar. He still calls me for an occasional lesson even now, regardless of the fact that he's currently the frontman, main songwriter, and guitarist for the band 'This Devastated Fan' who are about to embark on a UK tour, and working towards their 3rd album! Robbie developed an astounding skill as a songwriter, and has crafted some music which I find absolutely stunning. Predictably, the band have gathered themselves a strong following, and look well set to develop this further as they play more gigs and take their music to new places as Robbie continues to develop his songwriting skills, and share his work with growing appreciative audiences.

From their beginnings in 2005/6, This Devastated Fan have released two albums, played countless gigs, toured in Europe, and undergone a couple of line-up changes which have all made for an interesting and colourful journey. In recent times, I've met up with them regularly and as they asked for my opinion on different aspects of what they were doing, I offered whatever advice I had to give them about being in a band, let them know about the mistakes I made, and the pitfalls I fell into when I was in a working band which toured.

So what really interesting thing happened one very recent evening?

I went to meet the band, was asked to bring an instrument with me to 'jam', and I was asked: "Would I join them onstage and play with them for their upcoming tour?"

What a question!

I've never gigged with one of my ex-students before. I've played with a few of my old teachers, but never played with one of my students. I guess that as time presses on hard, this was going to be something which may have happened "one day in the future". but I didn't predict that it would be now, and This Devastated Fan!

With virtually no hesitation, I said yes.

I haven't really been out and played like this for a long time because I've been focussed very much on teaching, so to say I'm looking forward to going out and playing live with TDF is an understatement! To anyone who wants a very, very good night out with a top band in the last week of February and the first week in March, you won't go far wrong checking out This Devastated Fan in any of the following venues on the following dates:

26 Feb 2010 20:00	Patriot	Crumlin, Wales
27 Feb 2010 20:00	New Angel	Bridgend, Wales
28 Feb 2010 20:00	The Duke	Neath
1 Mar 2010 20:00	The venue	Ilfracombe
2 Mar 2010 20:00	Mambo’s	Minehead
3 Mar 2010 20:00	Asylum 2	Birmingham
4 Mar 2010 20:00	The Sal	Nottingham
5 Mar 2010 20:00	Three Tuns	Gateshead

Check out the hard working bald guy backing up the charismatic rock star at the front!

More dates will be added as they are confirmed.