I must admit, I approached Dana Gehrman’s new album Down in Hollywood with a little trepidation. I wasn’t very familiar with this Meeanjin/Brisbane-based blues-rock artist, and I’m ashamed to admit I’m not across the music from Little Feat, whose songs she covers on this release. I thought I’d feel like a fish out of water listening, but I have a policy of playing everything that lands in my inbox. I’m so glad I did. While I expected to feel out of my element, Down in Hollywood is one of the most accessible and enjoyable albums I’ve heard in some time.
This album has a beautiful nostalgia about it, even if you don’t know the source material. And Dana’s voice is so warm and welcoming, the marriage is heavenly. She wraps her vocals around these songs with gusto. All too often there’s a disconnect when people sing covers, because they didn’t write the material, but you can hear how much these songs matter to Dana.
“I grew up with Little Feat, emanating from vintage Tannoy speakers in cabinets larger than life. These songs are so engrained in me; when we play them, they feel as much a part of me as my own songs,” Dana added. “I don’t believe you could ever make their songs better; these are just my humble interpretations of songs I truly love.”
After listening to Down in Hollywood, I’m inspired to listen to Little Feat’s originals, but not just yet. For now, I’m happy to sit with Dana’s fabulous interpretations and celebrate them as standalone works before I make inevitable comparisons. Dana will launch Down in Hollywood with these shows along the East Coast next month:
1 October 2023 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Caloundra
5 October 2023 – The Beach Hotel, Cavanbah/Byron Bay
6 October 2023 – The Citadel, Kalibai Country/Murwillumbah
7 October 2023 – Tom Atkin Hall, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
13 October 2023 – St Bernard Hotel, Yugambeh Country/Mt Tamborine
14 October 2023 – Felons Barrel Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
Image used with permission from Jo Corbett Publicity