The night started out with Hamilton based Rebel Sound Radio who blasted through their set like well-seasoned pros, with the hard-hitting rock mixed with a dash of punk warming up a small but enthusiastic crowd.  The stand out song was Liberation with Jesse James Hanright’s well-executed guitar solo holding the audience transfixed. Keep an eye on Rebel Sound Radio, who nailed their set without a hitch.

Second on the bill was local group Edward Gains and The Human Remains whose relaxed stage presence put the growing audience at ease. Surprisingly edgy pre-grunge with touches of melancholy for good measure, their post-punk sound generally allowed people to meet and greet as they arrived.

Tauranga band All Hail The Funkillers injected a bit more frenetic punk into the festivities. Think Bikini Kill with a tinge of X-Ray Spex. Faster and more energized than on their digital album, the song Sophrysyne was lapped-up by an enthusiastic audience and despite a false start; the cover of Beastie Boys track Sabotage also went down a treat. All Hail The Funkillers was well placed to get the crowd amped for the main event.

Dedicating this gig to their good friend the late Gerald Dwyer, Head Like a Hole started their set off in fine tradition with Fish Across Face, which was bloody awesome! 

HLAH swapped nicely between new and old material with Drummer Mike Franklin-Browne nailing all the tricky fills in their extensive back catalogue. Guitarist Andrew Ashton’s excellent solos and crunching power chords on a stunning Les Paul Gold Top put the icing on the cake. If anything the difficulties HLAH have gone through over the years has made for an even more cohesive group.

Halfway through their set and instead of the usual midnight countdown, founding guitarist Nigel Regan opted for a ‘Fuck You 2016’, which was happily echoed by the buzzing crowd.

At times the PA system struggled slightly to keep up with HLAH’s unrelenting dynamics in songs like 1 Pound 2 Pound, Hootenanny and Never Mind Today. But for the most part and with a little encouragement from the band, sound quality in the Mauao Performing Arts Centre was good. My favourite Johnny Cash cover, I’m On Fire, sounded great and by the time audience pleaser Wet Rubber got underway, consummate performer Booga Beasley had partygoers eating out of the palm of his hand.

A few guys looking for trouble kept bar staff and bouncers pretty busy throughout the night, which was the only dampener to an exceptional event of fantastic live music that left my head ringing like a bell. Get along and check out Head Like A Hole at a venue near you.

4/5

Tweet  

Lucid Shift - EP Review: Aonaran
18 Oct 2024 // by River Tucker
You would be hard pressed to not get excited about Lucid Shift’s debut EP, Aonaran. But be warned, this release isn’t for the fainthearted.
Read More...

Silcrow - EP Review: Silcrow
14 Jun 2024 // by River Tucker
Aiming for the stars, Silcrow’s seven-track EP merges American-style rock with a touch of Seattle grunge in a well-produced release that will appeal to many generations of music lovers, but mainly to those whose musical awakening happened sometime in the 90’s.As well as changing their name from Close To The Bone to the much more kick-arse Silcrow, these four young guys from Auckland have been working hard on the live circuit (bar a short hiatus during lockdown) to get their songs fully dialled in and ready for the studio.
Read More...

Album Review: The Death Spell
12 Dec 2023 // by River Tucker
There’s a real whisky drinking, bare knuckle fighting edge to the self-titled debut album by The Death Spell, kicking off with Nail You Higher Than Before. Obviously, song lyrics are in your face on this track, especially for any Christians in the audience, but you couldn’t ask for a better intro to the musical style of this Auckland-based band.
Read More...

End of an Empire - Album Review: Best Laid Plans
25 Sep 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s been a couple of years since End of an Empire released their favourably reviewed debut album, Within, Without in 2020. Since then, the Wellington-based four-piece have obviously put their time to good use by writing Best Laid Plans, which is arguably one of the finest Hardcore releases to come out of New Zealand this year.
Read More...