Die! Die! Die! - Bar Bodega- Friday July 1st
I was excited about this one, having missed their last couple of Wellington shows, not to mention turning down the chance to catch them while in Sydney. So I wasn't gonna turn down this chance to see 'em, fresh from a trek around Europe, China and Japan.
Me and my gig going bud turned up just in time to check out the opening act, The Eversons. These guys are cool, Wellington based and have an EP out on Lil Chief Records. But, unlike most of the bands on Lil Chief, they aren't twee as fuck (not that I hate Twee, mind you). Their sound has elements of the Modern Lovers, kinda new wavish and they are smart without being too clever. I particularly enjoyed Loser, Boyfriend and Creepy. Like I said, they have an EP out, which I picked up the day after the gig and have been enjoying a lot since. A band to look out for.
Next up were Reptilian Future Cops. They covered the "you wouldn't steal a car" ad you see at the start of DVDs. Apart from that, they were shite. The only other nice thing I can say about them is that they had the decency to finish. Fuck, they could've bought Sets down from Hamilton or found another good local band rather than these awful cunts. Awful.
Now the excitement was really beginning to build. As I've said before, if there is another band currently doing the rounds that can whip a crowd into a frenzy as good as Die! Die! Die!, I haven't heard of 'em. After a quick set up, these lads set about slaying us several ways the far side of next week, opening with Britomart Sunset and not letting up for the rest of the set. Usually, I find myself at DDD shows right in the pit, thrashing around like the good lil indie punker I am, but this time I decided to hang on the periphery and actually watch the band for most of the set (Hey! I'm old and I have glasses now, so......) What stands out with these guys is just how rock solid the rhythm section is, especially given how much touring they've been doing. With guitarist Andrew Wilsons playing getting more and more shoegazey, a tight rhythm section is crucial. Good thing that Lachlan ??? and Mikey Prain are more than up to the task. They played us a chunk of last years stand out album, Form, along with plenty from Promises Promises and a couple of tracks from their debut. A.T.T.I.T.U.D was a stand out, while Lil Ships, Howye and We Built Our Own Oppresors from Form were as awesome live as they are on record. After the main set, and the obligatory call for an encore, they delivered a few more tunes, before finishing with traditional epic closer, Blue Skies. And then it was over, and we filtered out into the cool night, to marvel at how they can leap around sooooo much and still be tight as a nuns wotsit. And how the bassist didn't kill the whole front row swinging his bass about (I got to the front later on in the set once my chinstroking grew tiresome, so I know just how close he was to lopping some poor gig goers head clean off). A great show.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Its tempting to wonder whether there is something in the water. In the past year or so, there have been a handful of brilliantly psychedelic-influenced albums being made by New Zealand groups. Be it The Phoenix Foundation, An Emerald City, or little Connan Mockasin and his wonderfully creepy 2010 album Please Turn Me In To The Snat, psychedelia seems to be quite a popular influence at the moment, which is fine by me. And now we have another one to add to the list. For those of you out of the loop, Unknown Mortal Orchestra is the new musical project for Ruban Nielsen, ex of the Mint Chicks. Opening Track FFunny FFrends emerged last year, no info, just a bandcamp page and an MP3, and it set the blogosphere alight, and with good reason to. Its a catchy wee number and sets the album up nicely, with a slightly funkish backbeat and spidery guitar line and Connan-esque vocal. Next up is the slightly more insistent Bicycle, which is catchy as all hell. Seriously, it popped up on my Ipod the other day and I was humming the tune for the rest of the day, and the day after that. Yep, a perfect little earworm. Thought Ballune is up next and really reminds me of Piper era Pink Floyd, especially the descending guitar line and whimsical lyric. Those expecting Mint Chicks retreads are going to be surprised by this album, which has a more relaxed feel to it. Mind you, as much as I love me some Mint Chicks action, had this album been a Mint Chicks style punk-up, sans Kody, I'd have been somewhat disappointed. Thankfully, Ruban is following a different path with this record. The Mint Chicks did have elements of psychedelia, sure, but not to this level. They were a punk band, for better or worse, and this isn't a punk album. One particular favourite tune for me is How Can You Luv Me, a song that is almost soul like, with a cool falsetto vocal, contrasting nicely with Nerve Damage, which is where UMO sound most like the Mint Chicks for mine. I really love this record, I've been thrashing it for the past month or so and I'm not tired of it. Every time I play it, it makes me smile and you can't get much better than that.
Until next time, be good to yr barkeep.
