Dance Exponents

Press, 7 September 1984, Page 4

Dance Exponents

Dance Exponents at the Christchurch Town Hall auditorium last evening. Reviewed by Nevin Topp.

Dance Exponents came home in style last evening. The former Christchurchbased band has spent the last four months establishing themselves in Australia, and the last fortnight touring New Zealand. The response from the predominantly young audience was enthusiastic and by the end matched the fervour of last week’s U2 concert.

The group are exponents of the well-crafted pop song, and it was this that got the best response. Dance Exponents have been lucky as it was only public pressure that initially got Christchurch commercial radio stations, and then stations in other centres, playing their first single, “Victoria,” such are the traps in relying on “Billboard” magazine. It was pop songs like “Victoria,” lf Know . Your

Own Heart,” and “All I Can Do” that were received with rapture. One of the songs that struck the best chord, though, was “Just Me And You.” With the audience joining in on the chorus, the song took on a special meaning and showed just how well the lead vocalist, Jordan Luck, can put together a simple melody without between nine and 26 chord changes as he jokingly said in a an interview in “The Press” yesterday.

Sure, the band had some weaknesses. Luck’s vocals are not one of Dance Exponents’ greatest strengths. Except for the bass guitarist, Dave Gent, who really got behind the music, and Dave Harralambi on drums, the remaining two guitarists, Brian Jones, and Chris Sheehan, were as anonymous as shop mannequins. They both played but their stage presence was nil. Although the focus of attention is on Luck, it should not mean that he has to carry all the weight.

The stage setting was simple but effective. A cutout house with windmills on either side, specifically designed for the new single “Sex and Agriculture,” a song which does not seemto come across as easily as earlier releases.

Dance Exponents have variety. Luck likes to ham it up as a crooner, and there are also country and western leanings in the band. But if rock is your bag then they can do it as well with the jackhammer beat for “Christchurch,” an excellent song, and “Poland.” As expected a certain amount of Aussie brashness has rubbed off on Dance Exponents’ softer pop approach and it shows in the new songs. It is difficult to tell from one listen whether these will have the same lasting appeal as earlier “classics.” The inexperience of the band showed at times, but they can be pleased with the response. The show was a lot of fun.