Auckland’s Autumn Splendour have a new video to share that was shot on Super 8 film and processed in Germany. We got the band to explain what they’re about and why they have an obsession with naming songs after themselves
Bandicoot- Jurassic Warfare
8/10
Stepping into the footprints left by Be Your Own Pet, Bandicoot’s bratty punk rock sounds ever so similar to the Tennessee teens. The difference is that Bandicoot actually sound like a genuine punk band; rough, unpolished and with loads of teenage angst. Be Your Own Pet, while fun, sleazy and chic, always sounded like they were faking it, just a little bit.
Fuzzy, distorted experimental post punk that’s not trying hard to fit in with the cool kids. The Hairdos have been going quietly about their business, playing a few live shows in venues and house parties throughout Auckland. We caught them a few months ago playing what was apparently their first real show and were very impressed with their energy and band dynamic.
Something about Cassette #9 makes people go crazy, perhaps it’s because a lot of them don’t go to gigs all that often, who knows? But I think Bonaparte could make a crowd anywhere go nuts. I heard after the gig from someone that he thought the Auckland crowd wasn’t crazy enough and that he wanted a stage invasion. Perhaps Auckland crowds could learn a few tips from Wellington gig goers, where Bonaparte seems to get a pretty awesome crowd every time he plays.
Accompanied by tambourine player Tosh, and his own wicked electric guitar, Bonaparte bounced his way through an hour long set of raucous rock and roll. People jumped, pushed and danced around, feeding of each others energy to make it one hell of a party. Tosh did her best, acting like the sidekick to a circus ring master, spurring on the crowd and at one point dancing with them waving around her two tambourines. It was so great to see people genuinely having fun at a gig, perhaps the new venue his kicked the life back into the live party scene.
Over The Atlantic was again flawless in their execution, despite the odd sound difficulty. However the crowd didn’t seem to notice and the group of young girls swooning over the band were very cute. I have never seen Over The Atlantic play a bad set, even with a borrowed bass guitar that hadn’t been played for five years, their sound was amazing (although on stage it was apparently not so good).
Sam Conaglen now lives in Auckland and he kindly took these photos for us from Friday night’s So So Modern show. Once again Cassette #9 had massive lines outside and people had problems getting in, but you’ve probably grown to realise that by now.
I’ve been singing Jay Reatard all day. Easily one of my favourite sets of all time, Jay Reatard catapulted through a lightning speed set of songs mixed from his back catalog, although unfortunately seemed to pay less attention to my personal favourite, Blood Visions. Like the other crazy sweaty messes up the front I too was left hankering and hollering for Blood Visions, the title track. We were at least blessed with Greed, Money, Useless Children from the same album, a highlight song for me. Living up to his rep, the incredibly hairy Reatard simply yelled out the song title of the next song between each sweat-soaked rollercoaster track. Come to think of it, listening to Blood Visions now, you can almost hear him doing the same on the record, between Greed, Money… and It’s So Easy! The band had one of the best stage presences I’ve ever seen, EVER. His bass player was like Gene Simmons (but less creepy), pulling epic poses with his flying V that matched Jay’s, waving his head around loosely with his mouth agape so that his sweat and spit sprayed a metre in diametre. The quiet drummer was poised and perfectly fast. An incredibly talented and fun band, it was always going to be a hard one to beat.
Moron Says What?! next took the stage, garnering the biggest and most frenzied, enthusiastic crowd I’ve ever seen for them and most other bands in Auckland. The energy was unprecedented, and not entirely expected, but a lot of their school chums came and made it the most fun set of the night, over the headliners even. The Morons totally annihilated their songs, even though for some reason Nicole was feeling painfully nervous that night – “my hands are still shaking!” she exclaimed later backstage. Their own sound issues were unfortunately repeatedly brought to the audience’s attention, though it sounded fine where we were! Though the band has been rather disjointed of late, every time they take to a stage they totally nail their perfect pop songs with joy and (often) ease. I really, really hope that the rumours it may have been their last show are not true, they also need to record an album for my top 5 of all time, stat!
Some pics from a recent DIE! DIE! DIE! gig in Auckland, posted on the excellent Einstein Musical Journal blog.
Photos from a recent FOE gig - a friend of our friends Hold Your Horse Is - she’s gonna be big!!! Read the gig review after the jump.
Shots of North Carolina’s folk-rocking Avett Brothers’ stop in Glasgow - 22.08.11
Read the review of the gig here.
Take a look at the acts and art on offer at this year’s Latitude Festival in Suffolk. Included are the likes of Fight Like Apes, Lykke Li, Sea of Bees and Seasick Steve. Photos from our own...
Good time with Bad Guys. Photos from the May 29th gig at the Old Blue Last. Read the review by the Bad Guy himself, Stuart London after the jump.
Artrocker.com exclusive: for fans of White Lies and Crocodiles we’ve got some fresh pictures from their UK show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month, courtesy of Alessandro...
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