30 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Knives At Noon - A Mothaflippin Party

22 Mar 2010 // A review by River Tucker

Bar Bodega 20/03/2010

The night was young, I had my glad rags on and Wellington looked ready to party. What better place to be than the stalwart of the music venue business; Bar Bodega now located on Ghuznee Street in central Wellington. This venue has seen some excellent performances over the years and it's new premises look set to continue a great heritage. With a main stage and bar, an alcove performance area and a downstairs bar, this venue rocks!

The Vaults in the alcove started the party off with heart-warming synthesizer and vocal loops interspersed with From Scratch like percussion segments. The broad sound arrangements coalesced in reverb drenched dizziness. At times I wondered how the crescendo would come back down to Earth and at first the cool audience wasn't sure that it had. By the end of the second song any inhibitions were gone, loud applause telling the two performers they were on the right track. Dynamic drumming intermingled with recurring vocal sounds, which carried the melody, the Vaults were a great warm up act for the night of festivities.

Then onto the main stage where The Slur Tones got people dancing. With sheer enjoyment of performing to the half full audience, the quintessential three-piece were masterful in their delivery. The sky's the limit with these guys. The tight rhythm section worked hard to bring out Fabian Shaws impressive talents as vocalist and guitarist. You can see why they get a good rap in the industry, hard work and dedication usually pays off. Well-crafted alt-pop eagerly lapped up by the energetic and enthusiastic crowd.

The third act for the night: Can We Talk with Cam Bisley on guitar and mandolin, Liz Cameron on keys and event organiser Ben Dalgleish on drums fitted perfectly into the relaxed atmosphere. CWT gave a light-hearted performance with tongue in cheek lyrics from Cam and Liz. The vocal interplay and beautiful harmonies with nice time changes in their poppy love songs, worked a treat.

With a 21st going off down stairs, the vibe was good! A few beers and a happy, fun crowd already meant it was a great night out. However the best was yet to come... Knives at Noon took to the stage after just enough turnaround to create some anticipation. The four-piece, not messing around, jumped straight into some poppy/punk funky disco with hints of Goth. Doom Pop I think they call it. Strangely the almost packed audience slowly dissipated. Their music was slightly reminiscent of New Order. You can tell Knives at Noon have worked hard to get where they are. I wondered what they would sound like in a big arena or stadium. Oli Wilson's encompassing synthesizers kept the bass line and great tempo with Tim Couch on drums. Tim McCartney's crypto lyrics were well supported by his and Paul Gauvin's guitars. It was the most professional act of the night by these chaps from Dunedin.

Old Grey Wolf in the alcove then rarked things up. The one-man band's new wave midi driven, frenetic Pop and vocal effects from stomp boxes was contagious. That's the most fun I've seen driven from a synthesizer digital interface. The small but enthusiastic audience played along with the miniature musical instruments they got from a "lolly scramble". People joined in on the drums that were left from the previous act and threw streamers and balloons around. The windows steamed up like any good house party. "You're here to party so let's party" and that's exactly what it was.

Regularly swapping guitars for synths, New Friend found a receptive audience fully enjoying their alternative sounds. Expansive and poppy, these young guys enthusiastically played their hearts out. I look forward to seeing their sound develop. The Nerines joined the stage in a seamless jam with New Friend meaning there was no turn around on the main stage. The Nerines know how to party, working skank like off beats with heavier pop rock and, looking like the Beatles, the lads at times got some moshing happening on the dance floor. Amusing lyrics and band enthusiasm kept people dancing till the wee hours of the morning. But wait there's more...

If you needed an excuse to go out and have some fun, then an alternative event at Bar Bodega with any of these bands playing is a damn good reason.

 

About Knives At Noon

Knives at Noon started jamming in late 2007, but only really started doing things worth talking about in 2010, when they released the Glitter Guts EP (through Liberation), and the single and video for Violins and Violence.




Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Knives At Noon

Releases

Second Skin
Year: 2012
Type: EP
Glitter Guts
Year: 2010
Type: EP

Other Reviews By River Tucker

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...
Beastwars - Gig Review: Reign of the Beast @ Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui - 13/10/2023
15 Oct 2023 // by River Tucker
If you're into metal music, the Musicians Club in Whanganui was the place to be last Friday night for a feast of auditory delights to satisfy even the hungriest of souls. Brought to you by Lost Art and Panhead beer, Beastwars and Shepherds Reign headlined an epic concert that was set to bring the house down on the first leg of their not-to-be-missed Reign of the Beast tour.
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...
The Rising Tide - Gig Review: Inferno - Youth Rock & Metal @ The Stomach, Palmerston North - 5/08/2023
07 Aug 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s not often that you get treated to a mid-winter concert where nearly every metal genre is being performed. But that’s exactly what happened at The Stomach in Palmerston North last Saturday night where four bands gave it their all in a rip-roaring all-ages show that will undoubtedly leave the hundred or so people who attended with lasting impressions.
Read More...
Mammuthus - Album Review: Imperator
18 Jun 2023 // by River Tucker
If you like your stoner metal super-sized and embellished with a nice touch of doom, then Mammuthus’ latest release, Imperator, is definitely the album for you. Seven tracks of deliciously down-tuned, guitar-driven heaviness smash into your eardrums like a well-oiled and relentless steam train.
Read More...
1 Drop Nation - Single Review: I'm Home
08 May 2023 // by River Tucker
When it comes to reggae music 1 Drop Nation's latest single, I'm Home, hits all the right notes. Soulful melodies, tight rhythms, and on-point vocals impart a feel-good vibe that will get you chilling or up and dancing, whatever mood you're in.
Read More...
Gig Review: Devilskin @ The Royal, Palmerston North - 28/04/2023
30 Apr 2023 // by River Tucker
It was well worth getting in early to catch Devilskin’s exclusive VIP performance at The Royal in Palmerston North last Friday night. Following on from a successful show at Homegrown, Devilskin has embarked on their much-anticipated nationwide Let Me Breathe tour, brought to you by The Rock, after a short hiatus that, if anything, has made their current shows all the more sweet.
Read More...
Gig Review #2: Homegrown 2023 @ Wellington Waterfront - 18/03/2023
21 Mar 2023 // by River Tucker
The weather gods must really love live music because they fully turned it on for the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival in Wellington last Saturday. Not only were the tunes absolutely fantastic, the crystal clear blue sky followed by a twinkling starry night set a magical scene for thousands of beautiful party people to enjoy some of New Zealand’s biggest bands performing across five stages on the capital’s spectacular waterfront.
Read More...
View All Articles By River Tucker

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem