Review of Split Enz Concert—Quentin Roper

Hey, remember Wednesday night? Split ENZ gave us a concert-usual price $1.50.

Hold it ... did we say Split ENZ?

Well, the few who saw their performances last year must have been sufficiently impressed to bring a friend along because the hall was packed.

The opening act was great. Geoff Chunn (former drummer of SE), a talented singer and guitarist held the audience interest, but I had the feeling that people around me were waiting for the main act. After about a half hour, the stage darkened and Brian Finn ran, crawled, jumped and jerked erratically for a full minute at least, before announcing Split Enz' At that movement, the other members, duplicating his movements burst onto the stage like a horde of apes from '2001' and ripped into their first number "It's no Bother to Me'. Their own composition (as is the case with all their other numbers), this has been released as their new single. 'It's no bother to Me' showed me that Split Enz are still New Zealand's foremost con temporary group, containing some of the most talented musicians in the country.

With a captivating vocal style and theatrics to match, Firm had his audience in hysterics While I think SE have their own unique style and music, I suppose SE resemble Genesis, but more especially Sparks in the drumming and low, tow 'chunky' bass sound.

The musicianship of these guys really is outstanding-Paul Wilkinson and Philip Judd alternated with sizzling guitar while Tony Raynor, with piano, moog and mellotron was impressive to say the least. He would probably be the best keyboard player I have yet seen. His piano playing was not pre-taped (as some disbeliever suggested). I saw a short demo by him before the show.

The highlights: the spoon act by percussionist Geoffrey will be remembered by all, as will the 'mistake' by ego-tripping guitarist Wilkinson who, antipating a solo, stepped to the front, and was dragged and beaten by the group for doing so.

Mike Chunn kept a solid bass line going and participated in the theatrics admirably, finishing with a 'Chuck Berry' style dance across the stage.

I must no overlook drummer Paul Crowther who had to cope with constantly changing tempos.

And a word must be spared for the engineer/mixer who provided sound. I thought the mixing was great-better than other live acts I have seen.

Split Enz are off on a tour in Australia after their present tour is completed, and contrary to popular opinion, Split Enz will be recording their first album either during or after the Aussie tour. It will contain most of the numbers they performed.

Two films will screen at the Memorial Theatre on Thursday 13 at 8 pm (for admission sec Studass).

'Millhouse' (Filmmakers' Cinema, Sydney) is an extremely and admittedly biased look at the ex-President. It's also very amusing: but darkly so; the film follows Nixon only as far as the middle sixties-you fill the rest in yourself. Chilling. 100 mins.

'Attica': the most violent confrontation in the USA since the Civil War; documented on film shot inside the prison. Grand Prix winner at Mannaheim and Nyon festivals. 80 mins.