live!

Rip It Up, Issue 168, 1 July 1991, Page 32

live!

SECOND CHILD ZOMBIE BOY LESTER BANGS f. Dog Club, June 15. Sometimes I wonder how come local gigs survive, judging by the attitude expressed by a lot of people I encounter, yet this Saturday was a step to showing why. A fine Auckland night, rain hosing down and mind-numbingly cold, what was there to do? Watch TV? Well, brain death will come one day but until then I'm happy not to experience it, so it was off to the Dog Club pronto. On a night as foul as this, Lester Bangs' head down, backs turned, riff out dourness almost made sense. They sounded very mid-eighties alternative and seemed pretty popular with the more gothic elements of the crowd. Some of them reappeared as Xfc; X Zombie Boy, who worked the same territory but in a livelier style. The larger line-up enabled Zombie Boy to get a larger sound, melodies floated

around in all the mess and there was a definite energy. I would advise a little less reliance on riffs that sound so close to ones already used by Sonic Youth (it's called plagiarism I think). Last up and suffering from the less than nice sounding mix were Second Child. These setbacks did not do a

damn thing to slow down Second Child, they just plain blazed. They're a band with a ferocious sound, exactly what a rock n'roll band should be — driven and dangerously close to the edge. 'Right Up', the first song they did after vocalist Damian picked up a guitar was a moment of punk rock perfection, and the rest of the set

wasn't far behind. On the slower tracks Second Child are a snarling beast and when they get uptempo things get really nasty, due in part to an awesome rhythm section featuring

Jules of Freak Power and Barbara of Fatal Jelly Space, (incestuous bunch, these youngsters). Any case, you owe it to yourself to see Second Child live and if you can't manage that there are mutterings about a record, which I

would imagine to be essential listening. A word in praise of the Dog Club, while I'm feeling so generous. It's still one of Auckland's best venues and they had the good taste to be screening Sam

Raimi's Crimewave, a moment of cinematic genius. I enjoyed myself. KIRK GEE ABEL TASMANIA! Dog Club, June 15. For me, sport and music are inextricably linked. Both manage intense peaks and periods of unrelieved ennui. The greatest rock'n'roll experience in terms of sheer volume must be — Formula One , racing. Always the keen punter, I braved the foul and freezing weather to catch up with the Abel Tasmans. Elvis is alive! Well sorta. The suit was. The vocal chords along with Ed Sullivans and thousands of tormented females soared out of the PA. On stage said suit and atop it a cut out Elvis swayed. New band The Lure Of Shoes took their debut. Half thrashy — half melody. Standard two guitars, bass, drums. Most of the contrast coming from the dual vocals of Jane Dodd and - James Moore. Next up — Chris Knox. Well sorta. Elvis had his head replaced. His trousers were slashed to the knee and the übiquitous thongs were placed on the stage. As some one pointed out, this is even better. Saving us the personal philosophy between songs. Yay! Due to some over-zealous bouncing from the totally obnoxious barman (do something about it, Dog Clubbers) I DR'd and missed Peter Tait. Hear he was in good form. Now as I have said, sport and music is mixed. A special treat for the appreciators of a good physique: a bodybuilding display — flex! The Abel Tasmans, six and sometimes seven with the addition of clarinet, arrived. The strong backbone of Craig Mason and Jane Dodd laid down de riddum thick and solid. Leaving the forwards to run and play. This is a team to be reckoned with. Ron Young and Leslie Jonkers on the wings laced the sound with the obscure and the classical respectively. Ron had an assortment of Korgs resembling Michael'Chicken' Lawry's worst nightmare. Out front and up front Peter Keen and Graeme Humphries scored every time. Adding genius to an already swollen sound. Over the top came guitars, acoustic and electric, cornet, and clarinet by Donald. The effect was mesmerising. Before half time the man standing next to me was a slobbering mess. It's awful to see a man cry. Understandable though. Peter's voice was pure caress and Graeme's challenge. Highlights of the set being opener, Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues', 'School's No Good', 'Hold Me' and 'Hold Me ll' refrain.

The Abel Tasmans are a mature capable band, turning on the sunshine. Another shiny light from Flying Nun. Hey spinner, listen to this. BARBIE JEAN PAUL SATRE EXPERIENCE MARTIN PHILLIPS CHRIS MATTHEWS, GODSTAR Gluepot, Friday June 28. Godstar kicked in. In the best tradition of the basically black; Hendrix, Prince, even Kravitz. Godstar and drummer Michael, ripped through a short set of funky, spunky songs. Assisted by machines, guitar histrionics abundant, licks a la Electric Ladyland. In spite of the influence on his tassled ‘ velvet sleeve, gimme more. Can we ' have vinyl? Chris Matthews is as vitriolic as ever. Sarcasm may be the lowest form of wit, in this case it's a fine art. No acoustic wuss, tightly backed by Gary Sullivan (drums JPSE) and Justin Harwood on bass and backing vocals. As, maybe live rehearsal for Saturday's "Chicken Experience" this pared down version melted any stray ear wax. Getting away with 'Lucy and Romona' and 'diddy Wah'. Whipping the originals into submission. Imagine this, a small boy, pyjamas askew, favourite bear clutched tight to his chest. Hiding away, in the undusted comers of the house on Maori Hi 11... I sit here and wonder, wonder what's out there, wonder what's out there... Martin Phillips os charmimg and brave. Brave to face a full Gluepot with a twelve string and bare boned songs. As old as the punky thrash of 'Bite' and the premiere of the new 'Soft Bomb Pt I', 'Halo Fading', 'Background Affair' a comment on our political climate. Martin's stories take shantyesque shape, sweep across the room. Songs sung true. The entire night as our tooks a battering so did our eyes. Michael Hodgson's visual feasts and delights. projecting across the back of the stage. Headliners Jean Paul Satre Experience had a hard job to follow the fine entertainment that preceded them. Worse, they were uninspired and lacklustre. They have the songs. Anthemic songs of youre, 'Shadows', 'Flex', 'Elemental'. Their set flowing with newies. But they never picked up the pace til encore. A fine new song called 'Hold Tight'. JPSE have hot and cold nights. I look forward to another hot one. Tonight wasn't. ' '■

BARBIE