Sherpa, BMX Rapists, Bandicoot & Rackets

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Basement, Auckland (AA)

We were spoiled on Friday night, Sherpa were celebrating the release of their debut EP I’m Sparklers and the line-ups for both of their gigs were so good we decided to go to both of them. I was particularly excited to see 1995, after all the controversy surrounding the review of their debut EP Guilt on EMJ I was determined to see their live show and make up my own mind about them. First up however, was the all-ages show at the Basement.

The theatre works incredibly well as an all-ages venue and it’s appalling it doesn’t get used more often for this, however it’s rumoured to often be booked out solid for plays. We got there just in time to see Rackets’ last two songs. Here Oscar and Vince from The Randoms create poppier grunge rock than their usual fare, with Jeremy from GBTM/BMX on drums. Vince and Jeremy swapped instruments, making for a nice variation on each of their styles – the differences were hugely noticeable, Jeremy’s sloppy drumming seemed more appropriate with the music than Vince’s precise mechanism. From the ashes of one of the most promising hard-grunge bands in Auckland, Rackets sound really promising and I look forward to seeing their full set soon.

Bandicoot felt almost indecent to watch, Pearl’s dancing and screaming was amazing and their enthusiasm enviable. Reuben seemed to revel in playing with his new toy – a fancy pedal that reacted to energy like a theramin – every chance he got, while the two would banter and bicker over Daniel’s perfectly-timed drumming. They were the most riveting, exciting, entertaining band I’ve seen in a long time and their barrage of fans are a testament to that. I kind of walked away thinking how could anyone top that?

 

BMX Rapists were hilarious and entertaining as always, but sometimes their stories overtake and I really wish I could hear more songs in their set. It seemed like Sam was affected by technical difficulties (a guitar, with two strings, that wouldn’t work) and therefore didn’t add much to the mix. Their song ‘Dennis’ is amazing though and reminded of the fact that they need to make a music video featuring the infamous LOL between busdriver Dennis and the pleading prostitute. How long do we have to wait?

Unfortunately symptoms of last-band-onstage hit Sherpa and while their live set was impressive and their delivery really good, there weren’t as many people there to see them as the other bands. The sugar rush of Bandicoot was over and the debauchery of BMX gone, so Sherpa fed us some post-teenage angst. They were really good but their set seemed to drag as songs blurred together and sounded a bit repetitive. Still, it was very encouraging to see their EP fly off the door as it was bought in droves.

Special mention must be made of the impromptu ‘film crew’. I felt like I’d wandered onto the set of the latest Disney TV series. A normal film crew wouldn’t have been a problem, but this group of young girls giving people the baddest stink eye since primary school when they stood anywhere near the vicinity of their stuff or them was both amusing and frustrating. They wouldn’t have detracted from the ambience of the gig if they hadn’t set up centre stage. Like a scene from Mean Girls, they frequently turned around (while standing front row centre) looking bored and flipping their hair, pouting and glaring. They spent more time filming themselves than the bands.

More live photos

Sherpa- Myspace

BMX Rapists- Myspace

Bandicoot- Myspace

Rackets- Myspace

1995, Fanucman & Strange Beast

Friday, August 14, 2009

Rising Sun, Auckland

Later on, the gig at the Rising Sun typically had a completely opposite feel to the former. Desolate, dingy and considerably more tame, the audience was more chilled and reserved – as usual for an 18+ show. Another new band, Strange Beast, had a semi-psychedelic jam-out in front of a projected grind house film. All extended guitar solos and repetitive drumming, their vocal-less At The Drive-In intensity and song structures almost had a mellowing effect by the end of their fairly short set. They admitted to having a lack of vocals because they’re lazy. I really look forward to when they have them, as I think they could work a treat not only for interest but for structuring their songs too.

It was the first time I’d seen Fanucman but apparently they’ve been around for years. Their set was varied to the point of confusion, I couldn’t tell what they were trying to do as every song was so different. Each of the trio shared vocal duties, and each song seemed to be written by a different member, as the differences between them all were huge. From slow piano almost-ballads to fast drum-driven folk punk, their strange and cryptic delivery seemed to need defining.

Then finally the moment I’d been waiting for. 1995 crept to the stage and began their swamp rock, sludgey dark art pop. On CD they have a taut intensity to them, their riveting haunts and bone-rattling crispness accentuated. I found their live show largely faithful to their recordings, with the tight songs and driving rhythms brought to life on stage. Almost intimidatingly staunch in their uniform image and blank expressions, they seemed intent on mirroring the bleak post-industrial state of post punk’s bloom with their apocalyptic post punk rock. It’d be depressing if it wasn’t so energetic, tight and to be honest, fascinating. It was almost relieving to see front man Matt crack a smile at times; the whole band was so stoical, a wall of impenetrable noise. Their music really benefited from the concentration; their rhythm section was one of the sharpest and most impressive I’ve seen. They could have tipped over into being another ‘industry’ band, but in a twisted turn of events have had an unfair amount of criticism dumped on them. Social politics aside, their music is well-formed and they’re intent on improving, and it’s something I look forward to seeing.

More live photos

1995- Myspace

Fanucman- Myspace

Strange Beast- Myspace

 

Posted by Sarah Gooding under Live photos
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