LIVE REVIEW, DATE UNKNOWN - RUKKUS

Arriving to the new and vibrant sounds of WETA, I was taken aback by their incredibly poppy yet ultimately guitar driven melodramatic rock music. WETA come across as somewhere between GUNS N ROSES and THE BUZZCOCKS, if that's at all possible. The comparison stems from the fact, vocalist Andrew makes use of his natural high pitch and with the added chorus effect, tends to get that Pete Shelley (BUZZCOCKS) thing goin' on. Some of their material was straight down the line 3 chord Pop/Punk while others took on an almost epic nature like the moodier segments of GNR songs with some well executed, demandingly accurate instrumentation.

With a bass player who has learnt his body moves from one Karl Kippenberger (SHIHAD) right down to the haircut, I was enjoying WETA's youthful enthusiasm and total lack of regard for exposing their influences. The vocalist/guitarist, slips in and out of guitars with matching roadie on hand to relieve him of said axe after almost every song. Huddling down, unkempt inane hiding his face, he builds the song from quiet solo guitar intro, adjusting the volume after each bar in an upwardly mobile manner, until the natural distortion sneaks in and the band, holding one infinite note, break out to reveal their own love affair with powered melody. It's not often you'll get a Kiwi band toying with falsetto vocals but here it was, pitch perfect and proportionally permeating the Powerstation's perspiring patrons. Not an embarrassed look in the house, not an upset rocker to be seen. Some good keen audience reaction to the band's unheard material and all up, a superb, well rehearsed set from new corners WETA.

CHRIS KNOX came and went. Apparently there was some new material in there. Oh well. And now, the moment you've all been waiting for ... SHIHAD!!! Well, maybe the anticipation and previous experience of SHIHAD live got me too wound up only to be disappointed by a lack lustre show. From the opening bar of 'Home Again' it was blatantly obvious the mix was too fucking loud. Rock music is by its very nature best enjoyed at ludicrously high volume. There does however come a point when things will reach critical mass and each instument being pumped relentlessly through even the largest PA will corrupt and collide creating nothing more than a wobbling mess of vaguely recognisable sound. It's endemic amongst live audio engineers, many of whom have had their own hearing seriously impaired by long nights of over indulgence in the volume stakes. Like a crazy vendetta they subject us punters to the same ghastly noise. If it was crystal clear at that volume, I'd be all for it. I like my music loud. But not loud just for loud's sake, it's gotta have some definition. Interesting to note, it's the first time I've seen ear plugs for sale at the Powerstation. I should have realised what we were in for right from the get go!

After seeing SHIHAD last when they came home from the U.S. of A, a memorable gig at the same venue, a gig that for me, sealed the bands title as NZ's biggest and best live act, tonights performance paled by comparison. That earlier gig proved SHIHAD'96 play incredibly well and although loud, there was enough head room to bear each instrument individually and sonically, it was the best live show I've ever witnessed, including all the internationals I've seen.

Tonight, musically fighting through the layers of secondary sound waves bouncing off the back wall, SHIHAD played their usual high energy, totally involving sounds giving us plenty of material off their latest album to get lost in amongst the stray audio. When Jon reaches deep for some of the quieter moments, we get a mumbled nothingness. Some bands use the voice simply as another instrument but I know SHIHAD have some great lyrics, I've heard them both on CD and in the live context. Not enough can be said about my disappointment. Their performance, underneath the cloud of noise, was excellent and I would be pissed off, putting it mildly, to think people would be staying away from my concerts 'cos of a lousy and way too loud sound mix that destroyed an otherwise great set of original songs.

A little light relief came when Jon decided to ditch the black t-shirt he was wetting to reveal that 'bod' of his. "Mr Puniverse!" yelled out Tom, much to the entertainment of those in the audience who could still hear. "Is it that bad?" asked Jon, "Too fucking bad!" and with that, they launched into a set highlight and always an old favourite in 'Stations'. Overall, willing fans of SHIHAD would have undoubtedly enjoyed the aural torture of tonights set yet many would have witnessed the band under better conditions previously and as us reviewers are want to do, a quick survey of Powerstation patrons revealed I was not alone in my audio angst. With a $25 ticket price, audiences have the right to demand the very best. There would have to be some serious debate about whether I would endure this high priced fiasco again especially knowing how immortal SHIHAD can be on a good night. The night was WETA's by a country decibel.

MAX GAIN.