LIVE

Rip It Up, Issue 17, 1 November 1978, Page 17

LIVE

Lip Service The Island of Real You’ve got to hand it to them. How many other local bands play solely self-written material no, not even CB or Sailor- — yet still have their audience up and rocking? Lip Service are uncompromising which, as they admit, has its problems: ‘‘When pub employers hear we re an original band they just don’t want to know.” The Station Hotel fired them but for a different complaint: everyone danced too much. The Island’s crowd got pretty sweaty too, often yelling their approval between numbers. For, unfamiliar and distinctive as the material was, most of the songs had enough strength and structure to enable good audience rapport. Peter ‘‘Rooder’ Warren (percussion), Paul ‘Cat’ Drury (keyboards), ex-Waves guitarist Dave Marshall, and Peter ‘Future’ Dyer (bass) all collaborate closely on songwriting and, although the group once had a different lineup, they now count their formation from Future’s joining eight months ago. They play with considerable energy but, as Rooder states, “No labels please. Just because we’re young that’s no reason to call us punks.” Indeed he’s right; their music draws on too many styles to allow lazy typecasting. Their earlier sets showed discipline and a fine sense of space, yet as the night wore on things got a bit ragged. The reason may have been simply toking between sets but was more likely all that enthusiastic feedback. One hopes they’ll get used to handling such responses with more experience. They deserve to. Peter Thomson

Rooter Scav’s Farewell Party, Zwines Rooter are fun. There’s five of them (John No-one, vocals, Peter Hoffman, guitar, Justin Sane, rhythm guitar, Eddie Clanger, drums, and Chris Orange, bass) and John No-one’s so huge they fill up the stage. They’re good to watch. And to hear. John lumbers up the front, casually swiping a falling mike stand, or a second mike when the first gives out. Sweating, face contorted. ‘‘l Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock ’n’ Roll”. He’s got a good voice, and even if he can't quite sing, the occasional off key and flat notes aren’t incongruous with the flavour of the band. Rooter are mainly just out of school. Justin's from England and used to play with the Johnny Seven Combo, his best mate is now the bass player with Wreckless Eric. They are loyal to their origins and influences—pop music from back when it was popular. They’ve got one of the best songlists I’ve ever heard — “River Deep Mountain High”, “Summertime Blues” and ‘The Kids are Alright”, ‘‘Have I the Right” (Honeycombs), “She’s a Mod” (Ray Columbus), “Lipstick on your Collar” (Connie Francis), “Get out of my Pagoda" (Chris Spedding), and their own stuff like “I’d Rather Be”, “Walk the Plank”, “Shorthaired Rock ’n’ Roll”, "Never Been to Borstal"— I’ve quoted a lot because they’re all pretty bloody ace songs played hard and loud. John says he and Eddie collect sixties pop singles, “we speed up our favourite songs and do current cover versions that relate to us, of—dah dah— songs that haven’t been released in New Zealand.” The most promising new band in town? “We wouldn’t have asked them to play if they weren’t’— Ronnie Recent of the Scavengers. Jewel Sanyo

Small Ads

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