Gurus in hot house

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 8

Gurus in hot house

The Hoodoo Gurus, at the Aranui Tavern last evening. Reviewed by Tony Green.

About 700 people endured sweaty hell at the Aranui Tavern last evening to give the Australian band, The Hoodoo Gurus, the warmest possible welcome to Christchurch. The Gurus, riding a wave of favourable press in Britain and the United States, reponded with a long set from their two L.P.S. “Stoneage Romeos,” and their latest, “Mars Needs Guitars.” Technical problems meant that the long-suf-fering crowd, many of whom queued for more than an hour, were unable tolsee the promising local band;. Mea Culpa, whose support act was unfortunately abandoned.

But the headliners, fearlessly addressing important social issues (“Should Richard Hadlee keep the car? Yes! Yes!”) managed easily to dispel their reputation as just another hard rockin’ Aussie band.

True, the rhythm section was less than subtle, and the guitars veered dangerously close to heavy metal at times, but most of the songs were tuneful enough to escape that particular rut. "Mars Needs Guitars” was a sober second L.P. following the delirious debut "Stoneage Romeos,” but it provided some definite highlights especially “Bittersweet,” a top 10 Aussie single that deserved to do as well in New Zealand. Also from that record

were “Hayride To Hell” and “Like Wow, Wipeout,” which both were well received. But most of the crowd were there to hear their favourites from the first L.P., notably “Tojo,” and the priceless “I Want You Back.”

Dave Faulkner was in good voice, but it must be said that the Gurus are really a pretty ordinary band, saved by their sharp song writing and good set pacing.

Still, both the band, sweating profusely behind some horrible 1970 shagpile haircuts, and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves, in spite of the heat. A wild encore of “My Baby Does the Hanky-Panky” sealed the evening’s success.