Dartz, Dune Rats (AUS) & Groopchat – Double Whammy: December 5, 2024

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This late afternoon/early evening show is a bit of a cherry on top, on top of the rua Dartz/Dune Rats R18 shows happening in Tamaki Makaurau and Poneke this weekend. An all-ages show, scheduled for, before the main event at 8pm. The scheduled doors at 4pm, didn’t actually happen until 5pm, for a show that wasn’t really ‘pushed’ in my opinion, a few posters, but no mention of it on UTR. Nonetheless, the opportunity to travel between the Whammy Public Bar (where the air conditioning now works) and an alcohol-free Double Whammy was a temptation worth taking.

Groopchat

Groopchat have been busy on the mean streets of TA, from opening for acts the such as Louis Nicklin and Soft Bait, and featuring in a 95bFM Fancy New Band

Session. There is a buzz goin’ around about this grunge-post punk toru-piece, Huia (bass/vocals), Aiyana (guitar/vocals), and Teina (drums)

Having been able to catch Groopchat previously at least toru times, I was immediately able to notice how tight and melded the toru are playing together, their delivery is giving justice to their waiata. Huia is still the focal point of the band, her banter with the audience is natural, though this po, a guest guitarist Flea Miller, joins them for a song. It’s quite a bump in Groopchat’s sound, adding another dimension that launches it above much of the band’s other waiata.

Groopchat

Though not all, as soon a melodic, ephemeral, Joy Division like song catches my ear, maybe a touch of emo, perhaps. The last rua/few songs maintain, signpost  Groopchat’s sound moving further toward the post in post-punk, not to say there aren’t occasional interruptions and flash-backs to grunge, especially in the last tune. Groopchat are breaking out of their embryonic beginnings, methinks.

Dune Rats

Brisbane toru-piece are no Joey’s, entering their second decade, with wha albums in the trophy whare, and multiple tours to Europe and USA under their belts. With such a large amount of mahi done, Dune Rats have really honed their composite elements of surf punk, indie, garage, pop, and rock into signature sounds.

Also drawing on their Aussie culture (pub surf punk) that runs from Radio Birdman, The Hardons, and into current flag bearers, rivals (perhaps) The Chats.

It is a melody, reminiscent of The Hoodoo Gurus, that creates markers and pause in their high-energy show. Another moment In time, is the cleaner sounding usa-pop- punk (think Blink 182) that also rears its head, again providing variation in their set of songs.

Dune Rats

With tekau ma wha years of stagecraft in their tucker bags, Singer/guitarist Danny Beus, has a schtick, and easily embraces the (modest) crowd in word and sword play through their peaks and trough in a energetic set. Bassist Brett Jansch got in on the act, as did drummer Michael Marks, as a skit about The Olympic High Jump was rolled out (I think the stage’s low ceiling warranted mirth) The finale, though was a magnificent piece of crowd wrangling, as Beus (stage) managed the audience into a spectacular wall of death. Even without a beer in hand, Dune Rats delivered a raucous set of fun times for the young folk.

Dartz

Rumour has it that the wha members of Dartz met as in the Beehive, and over a few beers in Bellamy’s, schemed their way into opening for The Chats back in 2019. True Story. With a new(ish) album released this year Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One, and recent shows with Dune Rats in Australia, Dartz were returning the favour and hosting them.

Dartz songs are social commentary, slices of everyday life tied by the humour that pervades both, as they deliver manic modern dance punk. Dartz are punks that can play. From their album’s title track Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One (I think that it was) to the rant about parents, the ones that are landlords, that led into a song about substandard housing (possibly Flat Inspection). As the show rolled forward, I got the feeling that the band were onstage to ensure the audience enjoyed themselves. Between Singer Daniel Vernon and Guitarist Christan Pianta, the show was unrelenting, as the four delivered punk rock enhanced with melodies and a rugger energy.

Dartz

Possibly this was Double Whammy’s first All Ages matinee Show (no beer), while a few more under 18’s could’ve fitted in, there was no denying the joy created by bands and audience, filled the gaps nicely.

Simon Coffey

Click on any image to view the photo gallery:

Dartz:

Dune Rats:

Groopchat:

Simon Coffey
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