On Campus

Orientation Music

Raz initiated proceedings on Moday lunchtime, shaking the hallowed foundations of Rankine Brown with their brand of percussion - oriented funk, and the following week say a lot of good music performed at various places and times around the University.

A good crosssection of local music was presented, including some groups making thier first Wellington appearances after long absences on the road. I couldn't get to hear everything, so what follows is not a comprehensive survey, but some of what were for me the musical high points of Orientation week.

Appearing several times during the week, Raz always gave a competent and ejoyable performance. The recent addition of two female vocalists is an improvement, balancing the group's instrumental prowess with a strong vocal line, as well as contributing to the overall stage presence. A more memorable and musically adventurous repertoire would give their performances greater impact.

Rough Justice and Spats are two bands sorely missed by Wellingtonians over the last few months. I heard Rough Justice at the lunchtime poetry reading, where they alternated with poets Sam Hunt and Gary McCormack — a nostaligic occasion for some, as it renewed the poetry/rick association between Sam Hunt and Rick Bryant (Mammal) of bygone days.

Rough Justice have gone from strength to strength over the last few months and have developed into a close-knit unit of formidable ability. They are still playing a largely soul-based repertoire, but are beginning to include their own original material. I was impressed by the standard of musicianship displayed, as well as by the relatively short time between numbers.

Friday night was Spats' debut, battling with the acoustics of the cafeteria and the indifference of the assembled revellers. Spats' repertoire, including much varied and original material, did not have much success with a crowd more at home with scattering beer cans and grinding plastic beakers under their heels. In addition to these trying circumstances Spats seemed subdued and at times lacked cohesion - I missed the brilliant form demonstrated last year at the Royal Tiger and elsewhere.

The loss of drummer Bruno Lawrence and the trials of maintaining their musical identity in provincial beer barns have no doubt taken their toll — but given time to settle down with the new lineup, Spats will hopefully realise their potential as an original and creative group.

Their stylistic range is vast, despite a tendancy towards what they ironically describe as "punk-jazz" — as well as their own original material, Spats played numbers by Diango Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Frank Zappa, Steely Dan and others.

Saturday afternoon saw performances by both Rough Justice and Spats, and introduced the Sharps, a recently formed groups who have been appearing lately in a local wine bar.

The Sharps are unusual in featuring the accordian, an instrument not commonly used in rock music, along with guitar, bass and vocals. Each member of the group sings, and their music is based on a combination of Ry Cooder, reggae, and the folk-based rock exemplified by Geoff Muldaur and the Band. They were joined by a conga player and baritone sax for some numbers, and provided an interesting and enjoyable contrast to the heavier music which follwed later in the afternoon.

For me, as for no doubt many others, the Country Flyers' farewell concert was the end of an era. From their beginnings as a low-key country and western combo, the Flyers developed into the archetypical pub band, becoming something of an institution during their long stay at the Royal Tiger.

Later they toured extensively, going through many personnel changes — the list of past and present members reads like a Who's Who of Wellington music. Now, after a productive collaboration with Red Mole, have decided to call it a day. It is to be hoped that the Flyers' tradition of good humoured good music will be carried over into new ventures.

George H. Smith