Dan Webb

/March 19, 2009

Capitulation

Scroll

Dan Webb’s debut EP, Capitulation, recorded over two days in 2009 at Melbourne’s storied Sing Sing Studios, is a bold reimagining of rock, placing keyboards front and centre in a genre dominated by guitar. Working with engineer Matt Voigt (known for his work with Powderfinger and The Living End), Webb proved that keys could drive rock’s raw power and energy.

Recorded on a vintage Neve console—rumoured to have once belonged to MC Hammer—Capitulation captures a unique, vintage warmth that complements Webb’s unconventional approach.

The journey leading to Capitulation began in 2007 when a high school excursion allowed Webb and his classmates to record a song. Though he had only a minor role, the experience left a lasting impression and inspired him to pursue recording his own music. With his classical training and jazz background, Webb dove into songwriting on his upright piano, eager to make keyboards the centrepiece of his sound.

The EP opens with “Fictitious Girlfriend”, a track inspired by a secret romance, where Webb channels a gritty, Nic Cester-like vocal style over his fervent piano lines. “Dissection” offers an early glimpse into his willingness to experiment with diverse sonic palettes and innovative songwriting forms, hinting at the complexity that would define his later work. In “Sabotage This”, Webb’s first purely instrumental track, frenetic piano lines interplay with a tight, dynamic rhythm section, underscoring Webb’s intent to prove the potency of keys as the backbone of rock music.
“Keys-man Dan Webb stands at the dawn of his musical profession and... shows one can "rock out" without a guitar within earshot.”
Beat Magazine
Rounding out the EP is “Mad as a Hatter”, driven by a mighty Hammond B3 organ performance. This track captures Webb’s infectious energy and sense of exploration, with his keyboard work propelling the song forward with a vigour that left his bandmates beaming during the first take. The song also delves into unconventional time signatures, a concept fervently encouraged by drummer Josiah Bradshaw during rehearsals, thanks to his love for progressive rock bands like Dream Theater and Yes.

Despite his meticulous compositions, the EP's lyrics came together almost on the fly, with Webb forced to pen verses in the studio on recording days. This last-minute approach, however, lends an unpolished authenticity that resonates throughout the EP.
With Capitulation, Webb breaks new ground, demonstrating that keyboards can anchor rock music’s intensity without a guitar in sight.
Described by critics as a "triumphant debut," the EP leaves listeners with the undeniable impression of a young artist daring to reshape rock’s soundscape—confident, complex, and deeply expressive.
Recorded 6, 7 January 2009

Dan Webb – piano, keyboard, organ, vocals, producer
Josiah Bradshaw – drums
Luke Ebert – bass
Matt Voigt – engineer, mix engineer
Adam Nunn – mastering engineer

Photography by Andrew Maccoll
Album artwork by Sonny Day & Biddy Maroney (WBYK)