THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170028
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
DICTIONARY PLEASE - ductless gland, ductule - ah, here it is - dud. That brings us to Tuesday's concert at Heartbreak Alley, plus a few other ``d'' words - dimpled Davis Daniel.
The performer was on for 30 - count 'em - 30 minutes. You can't work up a good thirst in that time. Don't blame Daniel or the club. Blame his record company, Polydor, which is sending him around to promote a new release but saving a few bucks by leaving his band at home.
``I wish the boys in the bus were here,'' said Daniel, who seemed embarrassed. He kept apologizing, sang briefly, exited and never looked back. Wisely, he had an autograph-signing session before his appearance.
The $1.50 admission price lured only about 100 hearty folks. They saw a subdued Daniel singing - he does have a good voice - and playing guitar, the kind of thing that only works well for a few minutes in mid-concert.
It did work on ``Tyler,'' a heart-tugger he wrote for his 5-year-old son. It will be released as a single in January.
On uptempo numbers, Daniel often table-leaps and bar-jumps, but that gets awkward when you are holding on to a guitar.
The club came to life when the opening act, the Cruzin' Coyotes, came on to back Daniel for a couple of numbers, including his current hit, ``William and Mary.''
The Elizabeth City-based Coyotes are wild, imaginative and colorful. Like most local bands, they do covers, but what sets them apart is that they are not content to sit on the standard arrangements. They fly out on their own to create their own excitement.
They create some commercialism, too. Budweiser sponsors the group, so it rehashed the oldie ``Cold Budweiser and Sweet 'Taters'' then came up with a little-known, sometimes raunchy item, ``I Like My Budweiser Beer,'' which manages to offend other brews and a pure customer or two.
But it was a showcase for the group's instrumental and vocal talents, as was ``Hand Jive.''
The Cruzin' Coyotes also offered, ``Shame, Shame, Shame,'' which should have been dedicated to the record company that promoted Tuesday's concert. Concert? ILLUSTRATION: MUSIC REVIEW
Davis Daniel, Cruzin' Coyotes
Tuesday at Heartbreak Alley in Newport News
by CNB