Hot 'lux

Rip It Up, Issue 20, 1 March 1979, Page 12

Hot ' lux

SHEERLUX Windsor Castle Welcome to Saturday afternoon. We got every kinda animal here. We got shearers. We got Devo devotees in their industrial gear. We got hippies. We got weekend punks (Auckland style) and several skinheads, only no East End accents, no National Front tattoos. We got Sheerlux too. Apart from taking tallest band on the block honours, they boast a rapidly-acquired and enthusiastic following. Would you buy two encores at the Island of Real last night? Although basically a new wave jukebox band (they promise to write some soon), Sheerlux bring a tough pro attitude to the scene, which not too long ago was full of stand up and play bands. I'm not even gonna mess with the argument about whether you can be p**k and pro as well. There's not a weak member in the band. They play simple and tight, a four-man rhythm section with decidedly nasty guitar and sparse, wiry lead breaks integrated into the song structure rather than laid on top. Got that? Lead singer Paul Robinson is confident and abrasive, moving in an appropriately detached, jerky way. He doesn't say much, but then the audience doesn't exactly heckle either. They dance some. There’s always work for a tough rock (am I allowed to use that word?) band, and Sheerlux are hot right now. OK boys? Write some stuff. John Malloy Living Force Main Street My atheism is so militant I find patience a hidden trait when confronted by someone accosting me with their particular brand of religion. Queen Street, Friday night ... collecting wits and change outside the Plaza when along come that most annoying sect of hard-sell artists, the Hare Krishnas. Not a word spoken, just that moaning and wailing, the dissonance almost propelling me to crash a conga over

one of their bald pates ... ah, but that's a bit heavy, right? Later in the evening it was a Hare 80l attempt to convert me, again with music. But this time melodic-soulful, searing and yes, enjoyable. Main Street is one of Auckland's better venues: large, good acoustics, spunky waitresses and, more to the point, it’s licenced. Living Force came on at. midnight to a roaring welcome. With only one skinsman now in the band the Santana influence is not so obvious although it’s still apparent in Harvey Mann and Eddie Hansens’ guitar solos. There is a stronger-Indian influence now and the highlight for me was Hendrix’s "Third Stone From The Sun", hardly recognisable in the Force's Shankar-type build up. Newcomer Mona Hollguin, helping on vocals, mellows the sound somewhat but the solid framework laid down by Mike Fisher and Matt Matepi ensures the music doesn’t lapse into MOR while John Pepper's orchestrated sounds on keyboards balance the excesses of the guitars. You see, despite the didactic ethereal lyrics I can still dig Living Force. I don't really care what influence, inspiration or spiritual motivation guides them they won’t convert me from my pagan ways. But it's enjoyable" letting them try. John Dix