LIVE REVIEW: Cuck, Denudes, the Wendys and Mandate. 9/02/24, Crown Hotel.

as a serial music fan i often find myself depressed i can't be at every gig at once. short of kind of cloning device, my dreams of perfect show attendance were basically impossible. thanks to the employ of our new, dunedin based correspondent, however, my dreams have started to come true. today, we bring you a special report from the apocalyptic wasteland hidden 700 kilometres from the AMPF HQ. without further a do, i present...

 

 

LIVE REVIEW: Cuck, Denudes, the Wendys and Mandate. 9/02/24, Crown Hotel, Dunedin.

from guest writer and AMPF dunedin correspondent, Nico.

Making the voyage to the Crown Hotel on a Friday night just felt right; arriving at the venue was another story in itself.

The guitarist from Mandate decided to play some Boyz 2 Men on the jukebox, giving the beginning of the evening a light, almost romantic, feel. This was immediately followed up by Ace of Spades by Motörhead, appropriately setting the tone for the rest of the bands to continue the fast-paced, distortion fest. 

Spending most of the evening with two of my dear friends made the anticipation build further. As the chatter that rippled through the venue, the bands slowly began to filter in, culminating in the flocking of the gig-goers to the front of the stage when the T.V. switched from playing 300 (that one strange movie from 2006) to showing a live feed of the band onstage. 

Up first was a band called Cuck. 

I've heard good things about these guys from a trusted friend, and they most definitely did not disappoint. These guys were incredibly pleasant on and off the stage. 

They most certainly did not disappoint; playing a whopping 20 songs in total as the opening act for the night. The energy in the room was immaculate, and everything from the perfectly placed drum beats to the screaming, aggressive vocals was a trip for the senses.

The raw power of the vocalist, accompanied by the sheer amount of energy from the guitarist made for the perfect conditions for a mosh pit (admittedly, they were the first act of the night which created a little hesitancy amongst the crowd), and at the end of the set, a polite "thank you" uttered over the mic provided a pleasant contrast from the guttural metal-fest of prior moments. 

All in all, they were truly wonderful, with a sound almost mimicking some heavy-hitters of the scene, and they were a pleasure to exchange a couple words with. 

After a brief water break, the second band of the evening was gearing up to perform; a five piece number by the name of Denudes.

I hadn't heard much in the way of these guys, but they were certainly something to remember! Jangly with a little bite, they would've been at home in a coming-of-age soundtrack. The vibe in the air was similar to that of early Fur Patrol, and certainly a crowd favourite. They were charismatic from the get-go and a wonderful listen. 

Everyone broke out their best Stevie Nicks-esque dances for the lighter songs, which contrasted nicely with the one heavier song that they did eventually play in the middle of the set. It was all cohesive and choreographed well, and the music that they brought to the table was greatly appreciated by the entire audience. 

After some brief technical difficulties, the band was blessed by those in the crowd screaming for an encore which was promptly delivered to a sea of adoring listeners.

Thirdly, came The Wendys. Checking out their catalogue for their single release party (aptly named "Dropping In") a week before the gig, I found myself pleasantly surprised. The band was all dressed up to mimic a group of Surf Lifeguards, complete with hats and all, with a large red 'W' plastered across the front, which upon further inspection had crab pincers on the longest points. 

Their first song, Arabian Books, started off with the blaring of a neon green plastic whistle, which immediately hyped up the crowd, erupting in cheers and hollers as they kicked things off, they were incredibly memorable for a number of reasons, such as the raucous nature of various band members, the incredibly fun guitar solos and the point where I almost collided with the headstock of a guitar. (Whoops…) 

These guys were masters of the audience, travelling from Christchurch for the gig and doing it all with a smile; with the lead singer/guitarist getting stuck into the mosh pit, and the bassist attempting the same. Their surf punk sound was a perfect bridge between Denudes and Cuck, getting the audience into the mood that only a fast paced punk band can bring out.

The fans of this band certainly did not disappoint, almost putting on as much of a show as the band they were there to see; the mosh pit was also chock-full of first timers of my generation and older. The collaboration was lovely to see. 

I truly do think that The Wendys put on such an awesome show, and I wish them well on the rest of their release tour. 

Fourth and finally came Mandate. What can I say about Mandate? For starters, they were unlike anything I’ve heard before, yet somehow slotting into the niche that Cuck had carved out earlier in the evening. This is when the real party started, when Simon (Mandate’s lead vocalist) would occasionally pass off the microphone to someone in the audience; quickly testing the abilities of anyone he could get near him and standing still for longer than 5 seconds. 

This led to some surprising outcomes, whether it was a somewhat awkward squeal or a throaty roar. 

The mosh pit was an assault of the senses, sweat, long hair, the occasional chain from a belt combined with the incredibly difficult task of staying upright was certainly one of the best parts of the night, with the soundtrack being even better. 

The best ways I can think to describe them and their sound is impressive and incredibly expressive. (I must admit, I’ve been listening to a fair bit of their music since the gig, and every time I keep finding myself blown away with the sheer depth of their music.) 

Mandate has certainly made a fan out of me, and they’ve gained themselves another listener and attendee at future events. 

All together, these four bands created an impeccable, memorable and extraordinarily fun night of music, moshing and new favourite bands. I wish everyone on this little list well, as I do anyone who I may have bumped into at the gig. Such a splendid night would not be possible without you all, and I appreciate you dearly. 

Until next time,

Nico.

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