LIVE

Rip It Up, Issue 61, 1 August 1982, Page 25

LIVE

Neighbours Gluepot, July 31. A year ago the Neighbours seemed to be an uneasy amalgam. Three vocalists, each with their own style three different directions for the band to pursue , . Sam Ford's goodtime drawl, Trudi Green's pop and Rick Bryant's R&B. • Now, Trudi's vocal delivery is stronger, she sings covers like Gladys Knight's 'lmagination' and Eddie Floyd's 'Knock On Wood' with a vengeance, telling the lyric like it is paying due attention to the content of the lyric, not just the sound of. her own voice. Sam like Trudi, now sells his songs well, originals 'Don't Stop' and 'Hand in Hand' being standouts. And he does a creditable version of Elvis' 'Suspicious Minds', (better than Gary Glitter on BEF). Rick's versions of Solomon Burke's 'Everybody Needs Somebody' and Toots' 'Funky Kingston' are crowd faves, and on sax, aiding and abetting Chris Green (an impressive soloist), Rick con-

. tributes incisively once more. At the Gluepot they were joined by trumpeter Scotty and vocalist Pete Marshall for Smokey's 'Get Ready' the horn intro was amazing, Trudi's committment \ inspiring, the rhythm section then . slipped comfortably into 'lmagina- . tion' (the:7os' finest soul song), : then two of their best numbers, 'Don't Stop' and 'Watching Westerns'. The latter, the new single, is about trendsetters Ronald and Margaret deriving inspiration from watching cowboy movies on the TV. . Saddles and six guns That's how the west was won..: : Otis Redding's 'I Can't Turn You Loose' followed, then their first single, 'Love Is Never Cruel'. They returned for an encore, Rick with 'Harder They Come'. As you watch the Jam's live (with horns) special on RWP, bear in mind that though the Neighbours play near fifty percent covers, Weller who once. recorded soul covers, now releases albums plagued by ' scantly covered-up Motown soul. Unfortunate. Put it in perspective visit the Neighbours for horns that ain't icing, some fine new originals and of course, some old sticky soul covers. Murray Cammick Gorilla Biscuits Crimson Autograph Reverb Room, Friday July 30. Some people play rugby on the weekends, some people sing in bands. ASB tellers who think' seeing Hammond Gamble at the Gluepot is something to talk about at morning tea on-Mondays will probably think Gorilla Biscuits are just it. Gorilla Biscuits bellow and sweat, bluff and slink and when those -two guitars go to town, well ... Crimson Autograph, who opened for . the evening/ proved more interesting to listen to if not watch.. They a suburban all star band and it works. The steady thump of Men at Work drums, the thrash of Gang of Four guitar, and space, so much of it these guys

play with each other not at each other. Where Crimson Autograph seem still to choose a path, a direction Gorilla Biscuits embrace and enact theirs. Both bands play well. They are the kind of acts that the major labels should pick up on Gorilla Biscuits and Crimson Autograph are the start of a new wave the middle market bands. Mark Moss