It only takes a couple of minutes into your first spin of the Damone CD Out Here All Night to realize that you are onto something special and pure with this group. The hard rocking outfit is fronted by Noelle LeBlanc who truly brings back memories of a young Joan Jett with her rocker style and ability to snare you instantly with her voice. Before I had this CD I had caught the band performing live with The 69 Eyes and while I normally don't focus on the support acts as much as the main band something about how they were bringing it on during the show kept my attention and soon found me rocking with the people around me. That's the sure sign of a good band if they win you over immediately at a live show and I was impressed since all of their material was pretty new to my ears. The music on the CD is along the same lines and able to convince the listener that some cool stuff is going on from its opening. "Now Is The Time" has a semi-Pop groove and a really melodic Noelle vocal but there are some riffs and double bass drumming that show they like their Metal just as much as the next band. Mega track "Out Here All Night" comes up next and it is definitely one of the most driving tracks on the release and the group even found it featured on the soundtracks for "Madden 2007" and "Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam". Having this kind of buzz aimed at a core demographic is a definite help in a bands quest for greatness. The rest of the band is comprised of Mike Woods (guitars), Vazquez (bass) and Dustin Hengst (drums); this tight unit of players each supply additional vocals to the mix which gives the tunes a larger and fuller level of power on the album. There's quite a bit of diversity on the album and Noelle begs the audience to sing along with the group as they knock out "What We Came Here For" while "On Your Speakers" reminded me of one of those classic Rock numbers from days long gone. "Get Up And Go" is a bit heavy at times and it works well within the context of the other tunes. I had problems labeling them as mere Power Pop and felt there was a lot more Melodic Hard Rock being delivered that had some nice hooks and really catchy lyrics that made you want to sing along as the album played. Noelle is a memorable front person as well because she doesn't seem to put on any airs about who she is and what she does. Instead she is that cool chick from next door who while quite pretty could easily rock out with the best of them once she grabs a guitar. From beginning to end "Out Here All Night" is a fun Rock & Roll album and the kind of music that the genre needs to help it regain the strength it loses against the lame stuff we find being pushed down our throats all too often.
If you can view this as a downside, Damone does seem to wear their influences on their sleeves but I have never really had an issue with this aspect in a band myself. I felt that if you are a fan of Runaways, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, The Ramones and perhaps even KISS and AC/DC in some sense then this is a great album for you to add to your collection. There is a staying power to their songs and writing skills, and by already witnessing their ability to present this live, I am sure that the group has a bright and promising adventure ahead of them.
Track Listing
1. Now Is The Time
2. Out Here All Night
3. What We Came Here For
4. Stabbed In The Heart
5. On Your Speakers
6. Get Up And Go
7. Outta My Way
8. You're The One
9. New Change Of Heart
10. When You Live
11. Tonight
12. Wasted Years
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