As Australia gears up for Splendour In The Grass and a plethora of tantalising sideshows, New Zealand was thankfully graced with the presence of somewhat local heroes Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
Being the only band to venture across the ditch that feature on the epic line-up for Byron Bay was certainly appreciated by the sell out crowd at Bodega.
Coming off some pretty extensive touring in North America and Europe, that included the massive Roskilde Festival, the band have undoubtedly honed their live show since the release of their awesome second record II in February this year.
Auckland all female trio Las Tetas opened the night as they had the previous shows on the tour in Dunedin and Auckland. Their distorted garage punk went down well with the early crowd, picking up the energy levels sufficiently to get everyone ready for the main event.
Frontman Ruban Nielson’s vocals were drenched with reverb as the band launched into ‘The Opposite Of Afternoon’, signalling the beginning of almost two hours of psychedelic twists and turns. Waves of distortion and a myriad of effects covered the guitar sound that was held up by the solid thudding bass and swinging soul drums.
There’s a clear risk for the sound to become muddied with so many effects and at times the vocals to verge on the incoherent. But it’s the blend between those classic psychedelic swirls and steady soul rhythm section that make Unknown Mortal Orchestra so damn irresistible.
A clear early highlight was the rollicking garage infused ‘No Need For A Leader’, certainly a stand out track of the new album. The rolling funk bass line is joined by the jumping drums to a rattling crescendo before Nielsen joins in with the unfortunately incoherent guitar riff as it’s swamped by phasers and flangers.
Following the succinct sharp garage of the previous track a total psychedelic freak out jam took place for ‘How Can U Luv Me’ with drums taking centre stage with thunderous rolls and fills as Nielson took control of his effects pedals. Red light showered the stage as the guitar was transformed into almost an alarm for five minutes before the band jumped back in on queue just as the crowd was wondering what was happening.
For some members of the crowd it seemed difficult for them to stay focused on the show but it’s hard to point out anything more the band could have done. They brought bundles of energy, which was lapped up by the front portion of the crowd.
‘Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)’ initiated some crowd participation has Nielson’s voice drifted over the crowd. The real point of crowd involvement came with ‘So Good At Being In Trouble’ as falsetto voices rung out in response to the band’s first single from II.
Having taken the audience from bopping to swaying to spinning their heads in awe the slow burning hippie intro of ‘From The Sun’ was perfect. The flowing finger picked intro covered in effects in punctuated by the syncopated beat through out.
Returning from a short break to rapturous applause and the obligatory pleading for more, a drawn out raucous cover of Syd Barrett’s ‘Lucifer Sam’ showed off the band’s influences. If the gig hadn’t been sweet enough already the familiar beat of ‘Ffuny Ffrends’ kicked in as the whole crowd got moving, capping off an awesome set of psychedelic garage rock.
