REVIEW: Changeling

CHANGELING
THE ADELAIDE
FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
Words by Charlette Hannah
Photo's by Matt Walsh


Not many bands these days seem to have the guts to begin a set with a blistering guitar solo before moving into a song. However, newcomers Changeling did just that, bringing to mind great instrumental bands such as Led Zeppelin. For a debut gig, this three-piece had a helluva stage presence, and quite a unique sound in these times dominated by indie pop/rock. Not to say I don't like indie pop/rock, because I do, but it's nice to have a change. I kind of think they would fit in well with those late 70's bands - Led Zeppelin, Cream and the like.

With Julian van der Krogt's blues/rock riffs, solid and interesting bass from Jamie Hughes, and hard hitting drums from Hans Weston, Changeling are a forceful live act. Julian was singing live on stage for the first time - there were a few shaky notes, but overall I was more than impressed with his rich deep voice.

Like any new act, they do need a bit of polishing and tightening up, the sound was slightly messy, but they have the raw energy and quality of songs that make a great live band. They were well received by the crowd with whoops from the audience, and a patron even singing a riff after they finished playing. I think we can expect a lot more to come from these guys.

myspace.com/changelingband

REVIEW: Infrared

INFRARED
THE ADELAIDE
FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
Words by Jim Kyak Jr
Photos by Hans Weston

If you could make it through the doors of the Adelaide last Friday night and bare the intense fire of noise created by Infrared, then you might have noticed this was their EP release, and they weren’t going let you get out of the joint without knowing about it.

Steve Davey (vocals & bass), Carl Green (guitar), and Ben Payne (drums) unleashed a 100% proof concoction of visceral high energy rock/punk. Steve has some strong pipes inside him and is matched well by Carl’s creative wall of sound guitar playing and Ben’s tight and energetic drumming.

Only slight quibble is that the sound level could have come down a notch so that I didn’t get waxy fingers, but that said, music like this is meant to be loud. Infrared aren’t background music. This was a tight and energetic set by the Wellington three-some and I strongly recommend you catch them around town on one of their many local EP tour dates.

myspace.com/infraredmusic

REVIEW: White Night

WHITE NIGHT
THE ADELAIDE
FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
Words and Photo's by Charlette Hannah



It was a night of hard rock at The Adelaide on Friday night, and for me, the standout performance came from White Night. From the first upbeat ska-like rock song, with the singer Mat Lear throwing himself round the stage, their energy was infectious, and the music followed suit.

White Night's tight beats were overlaid Mat's smooth, powerful vocals. Mat has a great voice, one of the best male vocals I've heard for a while. Each band member really moved with the song. Mark Traveller's sometime pounding, sometimes tricky drum beats were perfectly complemented by Steve Hitchcock on the bass. With guitar coming from Mat and Dave Ralph, White Night have a wicked live sound.

The dynamics were loud without being obnoxiously overdriven, and pulled back without losing the flow. The songs were catchy, and reminded me somewhat of Sublime, but rockier. I'm already addicted to their songs 620 and Rainman (on their myspace).

GIGS: 5th - 11th July

THURSDAY 5TH JULY

- San Francisco Bathhouse
The Bleeders, Antagonist, Full Nelson. R18 $15 8PM.

- Bar Bodega
The Have, The Dukes, Fighting The Shakes, Tommy Ill. 8pm $10 presales from Ticketek.

- Sandwiches
The Taliband, Harbour City Electric. 10pm.

- Subnine
Matt Holleman, Rikki Doolan, Shaun K Anderson, Kathryn Baker. $5 9pm.

- Tupelo
The Moon Whispers. 9.30pm Koha entry.

- Happy
The Nigel Patterson Trio

FRIDAY 6TH JULY

- Old Studio 9
Rubix Cuba (early show before Bodega later), Single Strand, Tender Groove, Cross Eyed Mary. $5 7pm All Ages.

- Bar Bodega
Rubix Cuba, The Offbeats. $10 10pm.

- Valve
Fallen Order, Agent, The Alpha Shift. R18.

- Happy
The Ramps, The Randoms. 10pm.

- Flashbacks Bar and Grill
Masters of Metal feat. Magnum Opus.

- The Adelaide
Neckstretchers, Man Alone, Highlords.

- Happy
Pumice, Sunken. 8pm.

SATURDAY 7TH JULY

- Old Studio 9
The Randoms, The Stomps, The Lucky Strikes. $5 8pm All Ages.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
dDub, Pacific Bass Culture. 8pm.

- The Adelaide
Plastic Kitchen.

- Sandwiches
Electroluxxe, Samari, Perspex, Techead, Rex, D'Nation, Moneytree. Midnight. $15 on door, $10 with active card.

SUNDAY 8TH JULY

?? Are YOU playing? Remember to send your gigs through to wellingtonlivemusic@hotmail.com to have it posted here!

MONDAY 9TH JULY

??

TUESDAY 10TH JULY

-Bar Bodega
Beats and Bubbles feat. Johnathon Crayford.

- Vic Uni
Rubix Cuba.

- Matterhorn
Beatnik feat. Lisa Tomlins, Moana Ete. 9pm Koha.

WEDNESDAY 11TH JULY

- Bar Bodega, Room 101
Sleepy Demons, Charlette Hannah, Fanucman. $5 8pm.

- Southern Cross
Iva Lamkum Band. 10pm Free.

- San Francisco Bathhouse
Acoustic Lounge - Tony MacIver, Joe Ryan, Clint Meech. 6-8pm Free.