One of the most underrated of all the underrated bands
on the Flying Nun Label. Their recorded work never matched
their live appeal. They oozed attitude and were overflowing
with interesting and cool songs.
The band featured the twin front of Wayne Elsey - Guitar
/ Vocals, and Jeff Batts - Bass / Vocals. Graeme Anderson
played drums.
Wayne and Jeff had a sarcastic cheeky persona, and sneery
upfront vocals. Their music was inventive with Batts playing
lots of the melody lines in bass chords, and Elsey delivering
shards of guitar, ultra treble.
"Route
69" was taken from a live recording at a University
of Canterbury orientation festival. It probably isn't a
very good representation of the band either, but does highlight
the band's ability to take songs to a trance-like state.
The ultimate example of this was their live favourite "Fad
World", which made it to vinyl in a much muted state on
the Flying Nun "Another Disc Another Dollar" EP.
I specifically recall experiencing this track in a full
15 minute version at the Punikiki rock festival on the
West Coast of New Zealand. This particular version weaved
its way through wave after wave of mesmerising sounds
care of Mr Elsey while Batts and Anderson kept the groove
going. Pure magic.
The band also appear on The Dunedin Double EP through Flying
Nun. Elsey went on to the Double Happys with Shane Carter,
before dying in a train accident.
Batts went to The Pterodactyls, having previously
been in the Bored Games with Carter.
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