January 11, 2021

Concert Review: Corduroy – Anthology Lounge January 9, 2021

Wellington band Corduroy step out boldly on the Anthology Lounge stage and proceed to deliver a remarkably lively and energetic set. With feet planted in mid Seventies R’n’B to Pop, they branch out from there and show how a good Power Pop unit can unshackle the hips and the mind will follow.

In fact, think of them as The Clash merged with/in bubblegum. If you took the Ohio Express and Chewy Chewy then added some Reggae riffs you would be close.

Like I’m So Bored. A clipped rhythm with a great walking bass. The guitars chime and the band give it more energetic workout than the recorded version of the current single. A ripper.

Opening the show tonight is a large Auckland ensemble Half Moon Baby. Funk, R’n’B and Jazz are the drivers. Also mixed in with Rap. A version of Indie- Pop bristling with diversity and originality.

Matt Herd singer, Gavin Woodward guitar, Ted Bartley bass, Luke Lattimore drums, James Clarkson keyboards, David Mojel trumpet and Alp Semiz saxophone.

Aftertaste, the opening number is a good introduction to their approach. The horns commence with a Latin flavour. The six-string bass is dominant on the bottom and does so for the whole set. The sound of Seventies Soul and R’n’B. The singer goes to a soft Rap in the latter half.

Lately has a jazz saxophone to open. The vocals are R’n’B but becomes a fast Rap speed-natter later. The emphasis on rhythm with Jazz colouring. They could be a modern Klezmer band.

Crowded they can do slow and more soulful.

Then they follow with some harder Gangsta style Rap. The bass kicks it along. Misogyny and bragging. Why you act like a bitch?

Also do Old School Rap, Run-DMC style. On a song where they sing I wanna be a Cowboy.

Power Trio puts it all together. The opening is Soul Funk in the manner of the late Sixties Temptations when they were a Ball of Confusion. But the rhythm is king and the bass playing gets up momentum and heads to a harder Harmolodic edge. Great horn accents throughout.

A very good revue style band. Perfect on a beach esplanade in summer sunshine. Or late night in a Ponsonby Bar.

Corduroy also have Jazz in the mix but are going for a straight-ahead Pop sound full of hooks.

Rosie Spearing is the singer and she has a fine melodic Pop voice like Belinda Carlisle with the Go-Go’s, whilst also having some Jazz accents in there. The rest of the team. Will Cole guitar, Riley Barrett bass, Simon Kenrick keyboards, Jacob Gasser saxophone and Rafe Swan drums.

The second song Fire is a highlight. Nice ringing guitar riffs, full of hooks. A bright sunny song which they rev up to eclipse their studio version. And it sounds like it should be on fire and all over the place. That gets the almost full room moving and bouncing all over.

A slow off-beat rhythm. Then eventually opens out to Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets. Minimal and powerful.

Burning Couches is a complex story-song with a Lou Reed style delivery. Sort of a spoken drawl Rap. There are shadows of Velvet Underground in the background too.

Good Intentions has a jumped-up New Wave rhythm similar to the early Elvis Costello. Some nice Sixties Surf and Garage guitar licks.

Being all-inclusive and everybody is welcome, there is room for Disco too. Can’t Get You Out of my Head is infectious in optimism.

Waiting Game has the drums to lead off. The bass then comes on like Bernard Edwards of Chic and lays down the rock-solid Disco groove. Jazz from the saxophone. Finally, the keyboards pick up the rhythm in Electronic Dance fashion a la Human League.

Rich Girl similar but with the rhythm riffs now coming from the guitar. Short clipped Clash-style reggae jabs.

In the end I found them an impressive Power Pop outfit. All of their available singles are worth a listen. Live they sound even better.