Local cover band brings humor, metal to the stage

When trying to satirize contemporary music, it is far too easy to go over the top and simply look silly. Comedy/music acts such as Spinal Tap and the Rutles are good examples of using the proper restraint.

Then there are bands such as Dante's Camaro. Restraint has never really been a big part of this local cover band's master plan. In the two years or so that the members of Dante's Camaro have been performing together, more than a few fans of metal have fallen under the band's decidedly offbeat spell.

In a town that has more than its fair share of cover bands, Dante's Camaro definitely stands out from the pack. Although I had heard from more than a few friends how fun a Dante's Camaro show is, I had not had the chance to see the band live until this past weekend. The place was Tin Roof in West Ashley, and the little bar was packed with fans when I arrived. I saw more than a few familiar faces, including a few that had told me about how fun a Dante's Camaro show was.

For those who have not had the pleasure of rocking out with Dante's Camaro, it helps to know exactly what sets the band apart from other cover acts in town. Singer Ben Dante, guitarists Jack Hunter and Colin DeBruhl, bassist James Morgan, and drummer Eric Rickert assume the personas of cocky, egotistical rock musicians. I'm assuming here that the attitude is an act, but then I have been wrong before.

The real fun is in the music, which last Friday started strong with AC/CD's "Shot Down in Flames." The band rocked out as if it was on a coliseum stage rather than tucked back in the corner of Tin Roof, with DeBruhl and Hunter raising their axes in unison while Dante took any available opportunity to trumpet his band's greatness in a way that seemed to have him channeling wrestling great Ric Flair.

After another suitably testosterone-infused song, "Strutter" by KISS, things took a slightly strange turn when the band next tackled the ELO hit "Don't Bring Me Down." Sure, that tune had its day on rock radio back in the '70s, but when you are expecting heavy hits from artists such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and The Ramones, a song such as "Don't Bring Me Down" definitely starts to wander into "one of these things is not like the others" territory. But then, that is exactly what sets Dante's Camaro apart from the pack.

Just as you think you have happened upon a cool bar band that plays nothing but rockin' tunes, they hit you with a wild card. This past Friday, those wild cards included tricked-out versions of Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" and the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," and that was just in the first set.

Looking out at the crowd, one could tell exactly who had seen the band before and who the newbies were. For the second set, the band once again mixed harder numbers, such as Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" and the Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane," with decidedly more adult-contemporary fare selections such as Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and, in what was probably the funniest moment of the night, the hardest version of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" ever.

Set three got even more weird, with Dante's Camaro tossing out "Time of My Life" from the film "Dirty Dancing" and the DiVinyls' "I Touch Myself" before ending the evening with a medley that included Prince's "Purple Rain" and AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top."

The bizarre choice of songs, coupled with the band's mock seriousness no matter what the musicians were playing, made for an entertaining evening of music.

As an extra element to the strangeness, several times during breaks between songs, fans would hurl insults in Dante's direction, and the lead singer would return a verbal volley that would make any pro-wrestler proud.

If you are looking for an offbeat evening of music that combines Iron Cherry with the Dan Band, then Dante's Camaro is a must-see.

These guys are obviously in this for the fun, and the results are contagious. It is probably just a matter of time before they add a Carpenters song to the mix.

Contact Devin Grant at chucktowncritic@yahoo.com.