Concert Review: Dead Famous People – Whammy Bar December 19, 2020

0

With Christmas just around the corner, revelers were in force last night all around Auckland. But folks who attended the 95bFM Wine Cellar & Whammy Bar Xmas Party 2020 had a chance to see a bit of Kiwi music history in the making.

There was a full line-up of bands starting at 9pm and playing until 2am, but the act I most wanted to see was Dead Famous People who were scheduled to play their allotted 30 minute set just before midnight.

In case you are unaware (as many are) Dead Famous People is a band/act/musical entity who has been knocking around Auckland since the mid-1980s. Led by Doms Savage, the band was briefly on Flying Nun,  were contemporaries of The Chills and have only just released their first full-length album, Harry.

The 13th Floor MusicTalk series caught up with Doms a few months ago and you can click here to watch it.

So, the chance to hear the band live was intriguing.

Sulfate

First up I caught noise-meisters Sulfate, otherwise known as Wax Chattels’ Peter Ruddall’s other musical out let. How a man makes that sound on a keyboard rather than a guitar is a mystery! Great start to the evening.

Speaking of noise…Echo Ohs make plenty of it, but in a more punked-out, traditional way. Bassist/vocalists Yolanda Fagan is the visual and aural focus here with a scream that can splinter logs. Kudos to guitarist Guy Folks and drummer Daniel Ward.

Dead Famous People

At 11:30 it was time for Dead Famous People. And there was Doms Savage, front and centre sporting a pair of huge shades, while standing in the darkened stage, bandmates around her. As it turns out, the shades are a style choice, Doms eyes are very sensitive to light making photography more challenging than usual at Whammy.

The set began with Goddess Of Chill (of course!) and included highlights from new album, Harry, such as Groovy Girl, Safe And Sound and Looking At Girls. Interspersed were oldies such as 1989’s Barlow’s House.

I had a feeling this might be Doms’ first gig in a while, so after the show I asked her when they last played.

“Oh, 1991”, she casually replied.

So, there you have it, nearly 30 years after their previous show, Doms Savage and Dead Famous People were back playing in front of live, anonymous people.

YAY!

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery:

Marty Duda
Latest posts by Marty Duda (see all)