The Dream Machine Tour
INDIANAPOLIS
Photos and Review by Laura Fox (LLFoxphotos)
There's something truly special about Des Rocs, AKA Danny Rocco. I knew it the first time I saw him perform in Indianapolis at the WonderRoad Festival in 2022. I was blown away by the perfomance of the singer/songwriter/shredder from New York, along with William Tully on drums and Eric "Doc" Mendelsohn on bass. So was most everyone else in the audience. I also caught Des Rocs last year in support of Badflower, and again, it was a fantastic show.
The gig at the Hi-Fi Indy Tuesday night was Des Roc's first headlining show in Indianapolis, and naturally I was stoked to see it. My expectations were high, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I was even more impressed than before. Let me tell you why:
Des Rocs is a consummate performer. Not only does he look the part of a rock star, he's poised and confident on stage, with plenty of swagger but no sign of arrogance. In fact, he expressed gratitude for the turnout several times
Des Rocs relates to everyone in the audience. In between songs he told stories and jokes, putting the crowd at ease. He was upbeat, even when talking about heavy subjects. I especially liked the way he complimented super fan Evan and kept up a dialogue that included him throughout the set
While playing, he maintained eye contact with the crowd, which always scores points with me. In addition, he recognized everyone on the tour, including the guitar tech and merch person. That's pretty classy, in my opinion
Des Rocs is a helluva musician with a fantastic vocal range and mad guitar skills. He plays and sings with great passion and intensity. I could tell that he's been woking with Tully and Mendelsohn for a long time - every song was tight. He's also a helluva songwriter, creating relatable, memorable tunes that stay stuck in your head. Hearing them performed live makes them even better
A Des Rocs show is just FUN. It's clear these guys love what they do, which enhances the experience for everyone else there. I started the evening in not the greatest mood, but left the Hi-Fi with a big ol' grin on my face
Mark my words, Des Rocs will be a big deal one of these days. If you haven't already, you should get your butt to a show to see what I mean. Des Rocs will be on tour in the US through the end of August, including a performance at Rocklahoma, before heading to the UK and Europe.
For dates and ticket info, click here: