Live

Rip It Up, Issue 75, 1 October 1983, Page 28

Live

The Ritz Majestic, Wgtn, Sept 10. Happy hour had come and gone. Outside winter was fighting a rearguard action and inside the Majestic Cabaret Soft Cell, Hunters and Collectors and many others were larger than life thanks to modern technology.

Ritz 2 was a tasteful combination of international video and local music. The crowd was disappointingly small and the sound was uneven at times, but it mattered little as the music swung through a variety of moods and styles. Sassy stuff and New Zealand all. Jungle Mice overcame the small crowd to give an energetic and interesting performance. HSArt two people looking like extras from Star Wars took the stage some time later. Their music, relentless and overpowering, was a little out of place. Still, the finale

was powerful and finely • understated. -\ '., Naked Spots ; Dance were. the first of the heavyweight ■ acts '• to appear. They've lost the uncertain l ty that has dogged them in the past; and presented challenging, hard and rhythmic songs. Accompanied by slides, theirs was a strong performance. The forthcoming album should prove interesting. Then the Verlaines, authors of 'Death and the Maiden' my favourite local 45 to date for 'B3. On the night their performance suffered from a variable sound but the songs were as rousing as ever. Given further recording opportunities the Verlaines could be big. Last up Miltown Stowaways. Taut, danceable beat interlaced with fiery horn shrieks make an exciting mix. An energetic, almost manic stage act capped the performance. Uptight dervish dance or homegrown rock'n'roll, it was just fine for me. Some nights you just don't want to go home. David Taylor Verlaines Stones Empire, August 6. : These performances came at the tail of the Empire's Birthday Party, nine solid hours of music ... but you got the feeling these last two were the ones that really counted. Responsible for the year's best 45, the Verlaines have every right to feel cheated by the way the charts move. Why 'Death and the Maiden' isn't floating around the upper strata of the singles listing remains a mystery. Tonight sees the first real blooding of new drummer, Caroline (ex BRF and Spines) on the Verlaines home turf and she injects new found vitality just when the band risked edging towards staleness. Old mixes with new, with a smattering of fresh material, most notably, 'Forget Your Loved', combined with perrenials, Playing To An Empty Hall' (immaculately performed) and of course the irresistable, 'Death and the Maiden. No dusting off needed here kiddies. Verlaines Mk 4 will survive on Graham Downes' passion alone, but this version, unlike its predecessors, is threatening to be a real unit instead of a one man band.

The r Stones i.just ; couldn't be bothered," usually a guarantee it's gonna be a good night. Disintegration imminent (unfortunately glaringly obvious towards the end), the three "belted out a restricted list before getting slightly lost in 'Fad World', their

usual sweeping finale, which tonight sounded more like a broom battered death knell.

'Something New' was the unlikely highspot, ably supported by At The Cafe', both evidence of the huge drive and, sometimes majestic, power the Stones can

produce when minds are put to task. If indeed the curtains are closed, the Stones can at least rest satisfied they've proved playing to or for an audience just don't mean a shit. Playing at them is what it's all about. Shayne Carter