Live

Rip It Up, Issue 112, 1 November 1986, Page 40

Live

Shriekback, Car Crash Set Galaxy, October 17 By the time Car Crash Set got their short performance up an’ cranking, the Galaxy was pretty

full — interesting too that most people were prepared to lend the support band a sympathetic ear. Car Crash Set know where they’re really at now (it’s taken ’em a while ...); live drums and two or three guitars at a time now give their songs a bit of texture that has been lacking in the last couple of years. It’s a pity though that ‘Breakdown,’ the low-point of their set, is such a wally of a song for everyone to like.

Shriekback appeared on stage to open with ‘Nemesis.’ Barry Andrews was the focal point of the show, dressed in exotic Eastern fashion and cavorting all over the stage. The pulsing heart of Shriekback’s live onslaught comes from the rhythm powerhouse of Martyn Baker and Dave Allen, the other two core members of the group. Oldies made up the bulk of the highlights: ‘My Spine is the Bassline,’ ‘Feel It,’ and a cover of ‘The Razor’s Edge’ sent the shockwaves of Shriekback’s message to the audience — an insistent incitement to dance ... Things slipped away somewhat in the middle — ‘Gunning for the Buddha,’ sublime on record, was relatively flat and

uncharming. But to provide the necessary resuscitation, All Lined Up’ was trundled out to the crowd’s delight.

Full-on from there to the finish — mostly songs from Big Night Music, ‘Sticky Jazz,’ ‘Pretty Little Things’ and ‘Reptiles and I’ clattering as if on exposed nerve endings, along with ’Hammerhead’ and a fully-charged repeat of ‘Nemesis’ to close the show. Shriekback are a big show band — visually, Andrews makes sure that they are stunning, and musically, it’s the big fat dance numbers that work best in their live situation. The band’s bubbling effervescence injected life into practically everything they touched and fused the Galaxy into the right groove — a good one. Paul McKessar Saints, Texas Rangers Gluepot, September 27 The Texas Rangers opened for the Saints on the Australian band’s last night in New Zealand. The Rangers’ infectious rockabilly and strong presentation appear lacking only in their chosen genre’s inbuilt lack of room for originality.

Playing a set containing a high proportion of predictable covers didn’t help their cause either. But they are overcoming their initial, strictly novelty value, and that’s a good sign. First impressions of the Saints were disappointing. Chris Bailey looked like Meatloaf (no joke) and his Saints seemed to be a true Ozrock band with yer average Ozrock mix — a loud’n’heavy bottom end, with the two horns and Bailey’s acoustic guitar practically drowned out of the mix. The material, much of it from the recent All Fools Day, lacked the subtlety of the recorded arrangements. We weren’t amused

However as the night wore on, Bailey’s phenomenal stage .presence and quick wit began to take hold. Onstage he is a consummate actor — taking the piss out of band and audience members, swearing, dancing, sweating, and singing with a rich voice seemingly suited to everything from a swaggering blues drawl to the snide snarl of songs like ‘Sold Out.’ He seems to be a wild mix of Graham Parker’s voice, Chris

Knox’s stage persona and dance, and Mel Smith’s heavy metal impressions, pulling his long locks away from his face. He speaks French and abuses everyone in sight. A guitar string snaps — “time for some jokes," says Bailey

... “Heard the one about the fat Aussie?’’ taunted a short-editor-of-a-rock-magazine-with-glasses. Comes the reply: “Little poofter! How’s this for a macho pose?” as he goes ahead and strikes one — cellulite rippling, not biceps, no doubt...

And suddenly things had clicked. The rest of the band, led by the horns (at last), rose to his performance. The first encore was Bailey on acoustic blues with harmonica accompaniment, and then an hilarious collection of old favourites including ‘Mystery Train’ and ‘River Deep Mountain High! Last of all, the Saints came back once more to finish with the final blast-off of Tm Stranded.’ And for a fat man who’d expressed the desire to fornicate with everyone in the Gluepot that night, he’d done alright, this Bailey ... in fact, magnifique, tres magnifique. Paul McKessar

Knightshade, Strikemaster Galaxy, September 27 Brilliant' A night of the best rock music Auckland has heard for a long time, a treat to my hardened ears. Auckland's dedicated metallers were all there, but where were the rest of you so-called rock music fans, radio and record company people and so on, who pack out venues to see often second rate overseas bands. Here we had the country’s top two heavy metal/hard rock bands of international standard, Strikemaster and Knightshade, who have both supported overseas acts. They gave us a night of professionally played original hard rock. The musicianship in both bands was first class, and the vocals of Knightshade’s Wayne Elliot and Strikemaster’s Steve Elliot (not related, apparently) are a force to be reckoned with, sheer power and glory. You don’t have to be a metal fanatic to enjoy this music. It’s only rock and roll, thanks to Simon and the other organisers.

John Andrews