Tamaki Makauru Punk Rockers, Dick Move were coming to the end part of an Aotearoa tour promoting their third album, Dream, Believe, Achieve.
An album that could be a pivotal moment for the band. Their first written as well recorded in a studio, co-released on Flying Nun, and the driver behind a tour supported by a New Music Project Touring grant from NZ On Air.
Tonight, all were at the Western Springs Community Garden Hall, an alternative All Ages venue to the Grey Lynn haunt (from which most bands are now banned, for the usual reasons) It’s barebones, the bands equipment set up on the floor and a lone soundperson (the mighty Rohan) seated appropriately asunder. There’s also a lamp, a lamp I want!
I had discovered by chance the tickets were only $10, so I was feeling a right muppet having asked for a comp to review. So on arrival at 7.23pm, I did no blaggin, and I paid the $20 door charge, gotta support the local grafters (and remember to buy tickets in advance)
Late To Chelsea (Scheduled for 7.30pm, onstage 7.40pm)
Late To Chelsea display bravery, on first, the sun is still shining, and the room has the ambience of a community morning tea (not a $3000 one either).
Only a few folk to watch at first, but as they perform, play their way through the set, many tickle in. Through a set of playful punk and rhythm, filled with vocal joviality and energy Late To Chelsea rewarded the growing numbers, a mix of the young, punks, musicians and parents.
A broken guitar string momentarily frees Dave ‘Dirty Dave’ from his guitar duties and he ranges free on the degrading carpet until rescued by a friend, later other vocalist and guitar maestro Jack ‘Big J’ Horsnell, takes control, and takes full control.
Late To Chelsea released their debut album Some Good Times in Whiringa-ā-nuku October), their set is filled with many heard tonight, they in fact finished on the second single from it – Lost and Confused.
Mistress (Scheduled for 8.05pm, onstage 8.08pm)
Mistress, a three piece, Becky Bartlett, Hayley Middleton, and Claire Gillies, attired, looking very much a 70s glam/80s metal band, who I suddenly realised I had seen before, at one of the Sweet Treats Punk nights that Whammy hosts regularly.
Immediately the young in the room collectivise upfront, as they deliver an energized synthesis of glam, (punk) rock and a touch of garage. Highlights included the (July 25) single Dirty Bastard and a furious version of Joan Jett’s I Hate Myself for Loving You. Definitely a vibe going on about them.
Cindy (Scheduled for 8.40pm, onstage 8.48pm)
Garage, psych rockers Cindy have an impressive list of international acts they’ve supported: OFF!, Mean Jeans, Guitar Wolf, Shonen Knife, King Brothers, Alkasilka and Watusi Zombie, just, recently dropped a new(ish) single – Big Summer Blowout, and then undertook their first ever shows in Te Waipounamu (the South Island).
Manic! Maniac! Vocalist, guitarist, guitarist, vocalist are driven onstage (ahem) well all across and asunder, as drummer and bassist pumped out solid rhythms and beats, guitar flooded the whare.
Two of the band can’t stand still, and are in and out of the crowd, leaping wildly meanwhile the vocals come from all three upfront, including prime songwriter and bassist Gloria Florence.
Like their single – Big Summer Blowout, their performance is at full tilt, unrelenting, until at the end, Florence sheds her bass, and takes full control, taking lead vocals on a gothically wrenching tune, ballad even. Check them out Saturday 13th December @ Big Fan with Erase Everything.
Dick Move (Scheduled for 9.25pm, onstage 9.30pm)
Quick to set up, the touring life finesses many bands. Rohan battles a little with the natural reverb, but quickly gets things realigned.
Songs from Dream, Believe, Achieve dominate the first half of the set, Fuck It and Karanga-a-Hape are standouts. Lead vocalist Lucy Suttor is hi-octane from the beginning, meanwhile bassist Lulu Macrae and guitarist Hariet Ellis are busy creating dadaist noise & movement on one side, and in a sort of tandemguitarist Justin Rendell & drummer Luke Boyes are acting in a symbiotic guise on the other controlling the havoc.
It’s again unrelenting, and energizing for the crowd, songs come fast. Songwriting signifiers for Dick Move are short, sharp and pronounced. Dick Move sings about their real world view, when liberals speak equality, (democratic socialist) Dick Move screams equity.
Nurses (Nurses), Bus Drivers (Up The Bus) are raised, while the misogynistic (Handful) and the reactionary (Scared Old Men) are (metaphorically) trampled. This is not a set of love songs.
Time travel speedily, and the last three songs come. Patience is rewarded, as my fanboy song from the new album Scared Old Man is last, I do love the ending on that song.
When Dick Move hits Australia (again) in January next year, the Aussies are in for a treat.
Simon Coffey
Click on any image to view the photo gallery:
Dick Move:
Cindy:
Mistress:
Late To Chelsea:
Dick Move Setlist:
Suits
Good Time Girl
Run For Your Money
Fuck It
Bludger
I Am Your Dog
Karanga-a-Hape
Shut Your Mouth
Up The Bus
Small Man, Big Tweet
Minimum Living
Women, Take the Streets
Am I Enough
Rampage
Try Hard
Handful
Wet
Nurses
Scared Old Men
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