"It has made me uncomfortable in the past," admits Dolf when talking about the attention the band has gotten in the press, particularly in the UK where they tend to go a little overboard at times. And publications like NME are just as likely to support a group one month and then criticize them the next. "But it's something that you learn to go, 'Okay, this is what's happening' and you learn that it's what comes with the territory."

This past year, the Datsuns seem to be amongst a group of bands from their part of the world to be getting attention. Along with the D4, Jet, Rocket Science, and You Am I, one may think that the music press just figured out that there are kids in Australia and New Zealand making good music.

4) They have a distaste for fried chicken.

With the influx of television commercials using rock songs to promote their products, TV has started to sound like your average classic rock radio station. Led Zeppelin, Iggy Pop, and even the Ramones have let advertisers use their songs for a price. The Datsuns themselves were once in the very same position having lent "Supergyration" to Kentucky Fried Chicken for an ad out in New Zealand. And although he says they really hated doing it, he also admits that the band was so broke at the time, that the money they made from it got them out of debt (but don't look for them to be doing it again anytime soon). But when asked what he thought about bands like the Buzzcocks allowing one of their tunes to help sell cars, he looked at it this way: "No one can ever take away what Iggy Pop or Led Zeppelin has done. I think people like to hold up their idols as heros and they don't like to see them "sell out" or whatever. Iggy Pop used to be on a program on Nickelodeon, Ringo Starr did 'Thomas the Tank Engine'. But who really gives a shit? People grow up, they have kids. At the end of the day your family is more important than what some purist has to say. I mean, I'm not necessarily into it, but I can understand why people do it."

So along with the heavy sound, the high-energy shows, and the love of most things old-school, it comes as not much of a surprise that visually, the Datsuns have got the classic rock image going on as well. Like fellow brothers of 70's rock Kings of Leon, their shoulder grazing hair, pointy boots, and tight t-shirts have them looking as if they've stepped off the pages of a vintage issue of "Creem" magazine. "I used to be more into flares when I was younger, " answers Dolf when asked if he digs bell-bottoms or stovepipe trousers. "But now, I like them tighter". We do too.

live photos: Toni Simmons