When I first initially saw the members of this Portland band, they reminded me of some friends that “were in a band” but really just hung around in the garage. Something about Danava (pronounce Don-nuh-vuh) was familiar and comfortable. As they set up their own equipment, their friendly grins and playful banter with each other were just like those guys I knew. A few people gathered in front of me swore up and down that the bass player was actually Shelton Williams (Hank III) and that there was going to be a secret Superjoint Ritual reunion after the headliner Down (for those that don’t know, Phil Anselmo of Down and Hank III were in Superjoint together). Okay, it WAS kinda weird that the bassist looked eerily close to III but what wasn’t weird was when they started playing.
Unlike those friends I knew, these guys had skills. Major skills. In fact, these guys were so good they didn’t need to be on this tour. They should have had their own show. A perfect blend of a classic 70’s sound and black metal, Danava blew away the audience. The drummer set the energy level above par. He wailed on the drums as if Keith Moon was resurrected—minus the horse tranquilizers. Their bassist was just as electrifying. Unless you’re Les Claypool or Flea, bassists get the raw deal of being “2nd string” and get lost in the background but he proved otherwise. His powerful performance on the bass was only enhanced by his stage presence. Whipping around his metal hair and grinding his strings, he not only fit so perfectly well with the entire group’s performance but it was like he was playing his own show. But the crème de la crème was the guitarist who was also the lead vocalist. Like a young Tommy Iommi, the guitarist ripped up the neck bringing back the magic of guitar solos. Unfortunately I, as well as others, was a little irked with the vocals. Even with the vocal stylings of an Ozzy of ye ole Sabbath days, the audience could barely hear him. The music was strong, the performance was incredible, but if the House of Blues would have taken that extra time on the sound check, everything would have been perfect.
And for those that were wondering about the supposed Superjoint Ritual reunion, sorry, it didn’t happen. The closest thing the crowd got was when Danava began playing a cover of the classic “Black Sabbath” and Phil Anselmo of Down came out to sing. Seeing Anselmo standing next to the III look-a-like was the closest thing the people in front of me were going to get of a reunion. But for me, the best part of this set was the whole damn thing.