The Auckland Scene

Th' Dudes first played down here about 7 months ago, performing a well organised, well practised arrangement of Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and other fringe new wave numbers. They have returned to Wellington on many occasions and their act has remained noticeable consistent both in quality and content. However the rise to become one of the country's most recognised and successful bands has lead to some changes. At their most recent Wellington performance they did largely their own songs, which although better than average were a sorry step down from the initial collection.

Sheelux are another well known roving Auckland band, originally playing, in very speedy up tempo fashion, similar types of songs to Th' Dudes. But as with Th' Dudes, Sheerlux have been inserting their own stuff into the act, and unlike Th' Dudes', this material is well below average.

Iggy Pop, the New York wierdo, a couple of years ago, produced a song called The Passenger, it's on an album now deleted, and excepting this track, well deserving such a fate. The appearance of this song in an evening could probably be called the hall mark of a new wave group. I've heard about half a dozen bands go through it, and how well it has done can be used as a measuring stick. Th' Dudes rendered it outstandingly well, Sheerlux — okay.

Auckland has a multitude of punk groups covering every aspect of that vague classification. The Plague, who scream and shout, have dancing girls dressed in mourning and such like. The don't travel further south than Rotorua. The Terror-ways are also seemingly exclusively up north, but should they ever appear in Wellington are certainly worth a visit. This type of music is tremendously stereotype, all very grumpy grubby types playing exactly the same tunes, in an extremely untuneful manner. But the Terror-ways play well enough to lend some precision to their noise — notes actually have some definition.

Proud Scum, another thug show, plug out The Ramones — ultra fast — and a few adaptions of their own, such as I am a Rabbit. Mere average gorms, but vigorous enthusiasm and a ridiculous self seriousness make them worth a couple of bucks.

Ground Control, a recent addition to the Auckland roundabout, ham away on elderly classics at trendy beat, but although quite good, with the present level of demand in Wellington, it's rather likely we may have to wait a while before this group plays down here.

For other styles of music, Street Talk, Lip. Service, Flight X7 have all performed in Wellington. Street Talk are the most popular and achieve consistently larger audiences than they deserve, with their main stream type of blues-rock. Lip Service move towards new wave while Flight X7 are also accented in that direction, but with an unfavourable dose of hippiness.

Finally in listing groups who have or may appear at the Last Resort or Rock Theatre, a couple more deserve mention. Gary Havoc and the Hurricanes, John Ford and the Verandah Band, are capable, even if their titles are lengthier than their capacity to excite. Baker are hippy new wave and finally Swingers lead by Phil Judd, ex of Split En are hysterical clowns.

There are many many groups playing about the place, but it's only through audience demand that supply will develop and the quality will mature. So until the peculiar tradition of unmusical pubs is modified, pop along some evening and support your local night spot.

Ian Andrews