SUNDAY

Rip It Up, Issue 55, 1 February 1982, Page 4

SUNDAY

What better way to start the day than with a manic Daggy and the Dickheads doing the Clash's 'Police On My Back' for a wasted crowd. Taihape's Daggy threw himself about the stage like a man possessed, while the band gave it raw, and unmutilated. Rank and File tried hard, but missed the mark. The sound was tinny, and failed to project. Wrong time and place for the band. New Entrants saved their last gig for Sweetwaters. Tony Johns announced it midway through. The band opened with guitarist Smith-Pilling on vocals for 'Violent Night'. Tony Johns has improved on sax, but as their set progressed his disillusionment showed. Adequate but not gripping. A blues man through and through, the sweating, dust eating crowd reacted warmly to Brian Glamuzina, and his bluesy patter. The new bass guitarist fits the Willie Dayson Band as neatly as a kid glove. Hot and pushing

the band moved through stompers such as 'Ashes In My Ashtray' and 'John's Diner Blues', with beautiful slide work from Willie. As a threesome, Rated X produce a full, tight sound, and they don't play up to nobody. You get what you get, and it's good, straight and lean. Ann Louise Martin

Comments - from ex Daddy Cool man Ross Wilson bordered on condescending, but four or five songs in with 'Chemistry', from the album of the same name, Mondo Rock walked all over the crowd, with sheer professionalism, and rock ability. 'Eagle Rock' had the keyboard player out front for some choreographed guitar swinging in the old style, and the band concluded with a crowd pleasing sing-a-long ooohh, aahhh, ooohh, chant. Ultravox finally appeared, against a starkly shaped stage set. They said little and moved quickly into synthetic, and grandiose orchestrals, with more effects than met the eye. Midge Ure performed 'Your Name Has Slipped My Mind Again' seated on a stool under a solo low-slung bulb. 'Vienna' was almost immaculate, about as close as you could get to the recorded version. For the finale Ure joined Chris Cross for a syn drum session, and those who stuck it out were treated to Ure's guitar work. Billy Currie's stings on violin occasionally lifted and soared above a subdued crowd, but it was not festival fare. DD Smash have had better nights. Everyone was tired, including the audience, still, DD carried it off with enough panache to please the fans. The

set picked up with the familiar favourites 'Bull By the Horns', 'Solo' and 'Repetition', plus the new 'White Water', yet another goodie from Mr Dobbyn. He busted arse to keep it together, and the band was rewarded with top marks from those in the dust. Ann Louise Martin