Music

Dr Feelgood play Wellington

What promises to be the most exciting concert to hit Wellington so far this year takes place tommorrow night (Tuesday 17th) when British rhythm 'n' blues raver Dr Feelgood struts the stage of the State Opera House.

Formed in [unclear: 1971], this band have built up a large following in Britain with their brand of uncompromising high energy rock and have been discribed by the NME as "a stupefying, mean, tough, raw edged R'n' B group playing short, sharp bursts of supercharged rock and roll."

Dr Feelgood's musical energy and Skid Row stage appearance not to mention their ferocious impact, has been described as being vital importance to the emergence of punk/new wave which, considering their, first album was released in 1975, they predated by a good 20 months. They are also the undisputed catalyst for the current crop of R 'n' B bands such as Eddie and the Hot Rods.

The band's original line-up was Lee Brilleaux on lead vocals and harp, Wilko Johnson on guitar, John B Sparks on bass and Figure Martin on drums, but after the fourth album, "Sneakin Suspicion", axeman Wilko left under less than amicable circumstances and formed his own band. The Solid Senders.

The remaining Feelgoods recruited John Mayo to take over guitar duties and rushed out "Be Seeing You", a lack lustre album which lead many to believe the magic had left with Wilko, but they returned to form with the release late last year of "Private Practice."

The band's Wellington concert is part of a whirlwind week-long tour of Australia and New Zealand. To miss them tomorrow night would be to miss probably the most energetic concert since Graham Parker and the Rumour. The sweat will be pouring by the time these boys leave the stage and the strength of the Opera House roof will be well and truly tested.

The concert, which starts at 8.30 pm will be opened by Wellington's own Medusa, fresh from the recording studios where they have been laying down tracks which will hopefully end up on a debut album. As one of the more promising up-and-coming bands on the New Zealand rock scene they are well worth getting there early to check out.

Mark Wilson.