Happy New Year from Club D: Dada in Philly

12.31.10: Dada, North Star Bar, Philadelphia, PA

Dada, the dynamic California trio of Mike Gurley, Joie Calio, and Phil Leavitt who have been making music together for nearly two decades, played a rockin’ New Year’s Eve show at the North Star Bar in Philly. While it was not the 3-½ hour music marathon that occurred at that venue exactly two years ago, the 2-hour+ show was a crowd-pleaser. Much of the set came from their first three albums, with a heavy emphasis on their first album, Puzzle.

Unique to this show was a Beatles mini-set, which Joie opened on slide guitar after an instrumental Eleanor Rigby teaser. The sound guy then played audio from an intro Ed Sullivan had given the Beatles in 1964 and the trio broke into “Please Please Me” to a roaring crowd. And, as a treat for those in attendance, the entire show is available on download via secret code. If you beer me, I might share the code with you.

Dada played a handful of shows over the holiday—in Chicago, Philly, and Boston—and then will return to the studio to finish their newest album, reportedly due out later this year. Dada fans are waiting with baited breath for this, as the band hasn’t released a full-length studio album in nearly seven years.

Dada appeared on the music scene in 1992 when they hit the airwaves with the parody song Dizz Knee Land. Their staying power comes from a fiercely loyal longtime fan base. Most refreshing are their gorgeous harmonies and the fact that the boys have a solid friendship and respect for each other that permeates their music.

Set List

Posters
I Get High
Dim
Mercury Down*
72 Hours
(New Year toast / Auld Lang Syne)
S.F. Bar '63
Timothy
Ask The Dust
Just Along For The Ride

Beatles mini-set
Please, Please Me
No Reply (see the You Tube video)
Boys
All My Loving [reggae-style] (link to You Tube video)
Blue Jay Way

Bob The Drummer
8 Track Mind
California Dreamin'
Fleecing Of America
Here Today Gone Tomorrow
Baby Really Loves Me
Dizz Knee Land

Encore:
Moment In The Sun
Dorina

*new song to be released on forthcoming album