By Michael Whitticker
EVERY now and again with this monthly article I like to include the offerings of some of the great musicians who live in our region, so I’ll begin a new series this month: ‘What Rings Their Bell’.
First cab off the rank is the superb guitarist Dan McNamara, though when I suggested to Dan that he was an outstanding player he immediately rejected the notion.
Instead, he was just a guy who had played a lot of guitar and was lucky enough to have lived in an age where through audio recordings, the playing of masters such as Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page was accessible to all.
Dan was talking about the late 70s and early 80s when he was at high school studying their techniques.
How much easier is it for up-and-coming players today as we have so much more in the way of styles, players and lessons available on the internet?
Dan, a Peachester boy, was initially inspired by his dad’s recordings to take up the guitar in 1976 while still in primary school.
Looking back on school age memories he says, as much as the “two Jimmys” remain for him “the” masters of the guitar, he was also influenced by the music of Fleetwood Mac with their guitarist Lindsay Buckingham, and Van Halen too, but feels his greatest influence was the Irish legend Gary Moore.
In Dan’s words: “He could play almost any style brilliantly and gave live performances 110% literally woodchopping a fretboard!”
I’ve never heard that expression before but think I know what Dan means.
Fresh out of school, Dan’s first gig was in 1984 at the Maleny Show, and extraordinarily, the drummer from that original band, and with whom he first started playing in 1980, was Dave Woolston who is still his best buddy and a band member in his present band – The Levee.
Dan says, “The Levee is a collection of pals with similar influences, despite the age differences, and I’ve probably never been as comfortable jamming in a band.”
Aside from Dave, who is Dan’s “fave” drummer (after more than 40 years of playing together they think as one), on bass is Jimmy, who, as Dan notes, “ is a sensational musician who also plays in a great originals band Sugarbag Blonde”.
The vocalist Willow is the baby of the band, and has spoiled Dan for other singers, “an amazing talent”, he says.
Dan himself is a phenomenal showman. It is very hard to take your eyes off him when on stage as he does put on a show!
I asked him what was going through his mind when he was up there with the guitar in his hand.
He said, “My only wish is that the audience enjoys the music we are playing for them as much as we love playing it for each other.”
That we do. Thank you Dan.
Main image: Dave Woolston and Dan McNamara.
