Music News - Legendary Hamilton Circle Jerk music event is back! 12 bands on one night!
12 September 2016 - 0 Comments
A Circle Jerk sounds suspiciously like the type of activity foresworn by Nick Willis. It is, actually. Circle Jerk is also the name of an Aerosmith song and The Circle Jerks are an American punk band. In a Hamilton context though Circle Jerk means just one thing: an unique celebration of local music. Ironically self-congratulatory, the first Hamilton Circle Jerk graced the city back in 2005, the brainchild of Tron enfant terrible Mark Tupuhi. The premise was simple, the idea behind it simpler still. Hamilton bands, past and present, were invited to play material originated by their peers and predecessors. Each band was limited to a three song set. Two songs had to be covers, the other an original. Showcasing the city's musical diversity as much as its rich past, the Hamilton Circle Jerk was born out of a perception that we were too often overlooked in events like New Zealand Music Month. As it became an annual event, then something of a tradition, that focus happily fell away. We were celebrating our culture regardless of the rest of country's indifference, not because of it.
After a five year hiatus, Circle Jerk returns in 2016 on the 17th of September at The Meteor theatre. The rules have been slightly relaxed but the format is basically the same. Across an array of musical genres, featuring talent both resident and returning, the 8th Hamilton Circle Jerk enjoys a 13 band strong line up.
The Big Muffin Serious Band, legends in their own life times, take the prize for seniority, having been on the go since 1983. They will bring their special brand of ukulele stylings and anarchic humour to proceedings. Also solidly in the veteran category, if of a slightly younger generation, Circle Jerk mainstays Rumpus Room, for two decades the musical vehicle of the brothers Newth and friends, are back with a vengeance.
Youth and punk rock are nonetheless the event's backbone. Hardcore is represented by the Wizz Kids and The Contenders and the Pythonesque sounding Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge, the new, harder sound from Goth & the Pixie's Wairehu Grant.
Event founder Mark Tupuhi puts in an appearance with his band Runt and as ever promises to be interesting. Electronica and experimental music is brought to the party by Glass Shards and folk represented by Looking for Alaska.
Noted low fi duo The Halcyon Birds bring their distinctive indie vibe and new alternative, Husker Du inspired band The Join Outs round out the bill.
Finally, some seasoned performers from years past appear in a slightly different guise. Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgängers, the pyscho rockabilly group of international reputation, graced all the early Circle Jerks. In 2016 they return, intriguingly, without lead singer Ricky Kimber-Bell, under the appropriate moniker of Dickless Dynamites. I suspect they will be emasculated in name only.
Musicians and academics Dean Ballinger and Huw O'Connor, the one-time rhythm section of Hamilton's notorious Mobile Stud Unit, will be performing as The Fucking Spectaculars. If that title almost promises too much O'Connor's muscular command of the bass has at least once in the past taken a back seat to a more physical engagement with his audience. Visceral is a word that just about covers it. Don't get SS Stormtrooper angry: his blitzkrieg is far worse than his bark.
Doors open at the 8th Hamilton Circle Jerk at 7pm. Tickets are just $10 on the door, which equates to around 80 cents per band, value for money in anyone's book.
With:
Looking
For Alaska, The Halcyon Birds, Big Muffin Serious Band, Wizz Kids,
Rumpus
Room, The Join Outs, Dickless Dynamites, Wink, Wink, Nudge,
Nudge,
Glass
Shards, Runt, The Contenders, The F#ck!ng Spectaculars
Sat, 17th of September
At Meteor, 1 Vic St.
Hamilton
Doors open 7pm, $10 on the door.
All ages
Photos-Looking For Alaska-credit Nita Meyer Photography
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