WE’RE GONNA GET YA AFTER SCHOOL

Rip It Up, Issue 224, 1 April 1996, Page 9

WE’RE GONNA GET YA AFTER SCHOOL

I've had my suspicions for quite some time now, but the review of TISM at the Big Day Out 96, by John Russell Rooster (King Cock), basically confirms beyond a shadow of a doubt he is obviously a closet homeboy from way back. In fact, I’m surprised TISM never dedicated the song ‘All Homeboys are Dickheads’ to John Boy, when I saw them live at the BDO. I have read many a biased, misdirected review in previous RIUs, by Mr Homie, with unabashed bewilderment at how such an archaic, arrogant hack as himself has managed to retain any position of journalistic credibility with such pinheaded opinions as his. This observation has been repeated in the letters column by numerous disgruntled readers on a regular basis, in repsonse to his seemingly endless supply of literary diarrhoea (apparently his native tongue). If Paul Holmes (yet another Holmeboy) were the resident programmer for NZ On Air, he’d look like John Russell.

For me, TISM were the highlight of a mostly uneventful day, hallmarked by frequent lacklustre performances. Not only could they pump out an infectiously catchy fistful of songs, but also took it upon themselves to wow us with the most gob smacking visual feast of the day. This, as JR grudgingly acknowledged, casued the audience to subsequently go nuts — a rather apt response to a crew who have strived to put the ‘show’ back in showmanship. Not unlike Johnny, who has effectively managed to put the ‘boy’ back in Homeboy, having scrutinised his critical ineptness. Scott, Tauranga. Editor Replies: You must have spent the day in the dunny if TISM were the highlight.